Comets make splash in first round; host Supers next week

SAN MARCOS, CA (5/4/2024) -- No. 2 Palomar College Baseball defeated No. 23 College of the Canyons 19-1 to advance to the Super Regionals round of the 3C2A SoCal Regionals on Saturday afternoon. 

The Comets, playing as the away team in game two of the series, jumped on the Cougars early thanks to a seven-run second inning before continuing the assault in the third with another four runs. The Comets loaded the bases with one out when Elijah Cook collected his second hit of the day with a two-RBI single. He came around to score two batters later when Noah Lazuka singled to plate Cook and Ian Halverson. With two runners on, Makana Olaso stepped to the plate one day after breaking the single-season home run record. He hit his 18th home run of the season to make it 8-0 Comets. 

In the onslaught of runs for the Comets, Lazuka led the team with four RBI, followed by Cook and Olaso with three apiece. Troy Connor, Anthony Pacino and Halverson each had two, while Drake Cobb, Ryan Rivera and Luke Matthews each had one. COok, Connor, Olaso, Cobb, Pacino and Matthews each recorded a double as well.

Ryan Herrod pitched six solid innings, allowing a run on three hits and striking out five batters to move to 9-1 on the season. Nathaniel Helton, Lucas Smith and Noah Waldeck pitched a relief inning. Helton recorded two strikeouts and didn't allow a hit while Waldeck struck out the side in the ninth to advance the Comets to their second Super Regional in three years.