The softball season is just a few days away and the sports information directors from the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference have picked Palomar College to repeat as PCAC champions.  The Comets were a unanimous choice.

Palomar has won or shared seven straight PCAC titles, and in the past five seasons has gone 100-2 in conference play.  The Comets took home all three first place votes to finish ahead of San Diego Mesa and Southwestern in the preseason voting.

Palomar ended up making a run to the state championship, where they came up short for a second straight season to Mt. San Antonio College.  It was the third appearance in the state finals in the past five years, winning the CCCAA championship in 2015.

The Comets return a solid nucleus from that squad, which should make things difficult for the rest of the PCAC.  Pitcher Catalina Aguilar (pictured) returns to the mound after finishing 19-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 2019.  She will have a younger crowd around her this season, but returning from the 2019 squad is outfielder Samantha Renteria, catcher Kendall Kates and first baseman Rylee Penrod.  Renteria and Kates were both PCAC First Team selections a year ago while Penrod was a second team selection. 

San Diego Mesa edged out Southwestern College by one vote for second place in the preseason poll.  The Olympians finished 28-12 overall and 13-3 in PCAC play last season, making it to the Southern California Regional Tournament where they were knocked out by El Camino College.  Mesa returns Kaleigh Lane , who was a first team selection last season after batting .458 for the year.  The Olympians return a ton of talent from the 2019 squad, including outfielder Dylana Guyon, infielder Kassandra Solis-Corralis, pitcher Karli Ramsey and catcher/third baseman Andrea Wright. 

Southwestern finished tied with Mesa in conference play a season ago at 13-3 and were 27-16 overall for the year.  The Jaguars advanced to the Southern California Regional playoffs where they defeated Ventura College in a play-in round game before falling to Cypress College in the next round of the playoffs.  Southwestern returns shortstop Erika Anders back after a First Team All-PCAC season a year ago when she batted .379 with a team-high 53 hits, six triples, 42 runs-scored and 10 stolen bases.  Joining her from the 2019 team is utility players/pitchers Kiana Knoll and Jacqueline Kamery along with outfielder Breeanna Simmons.

PCAC PRESEASON SID'S POLL