Palomar's Caldwell and Rivas headline All-PCAC teams

Palomar College's Aaliyah Rivas was named Player of the Year. Photo by Cara Heise.
Palomar College's Aaliyah Rivas was named Player of the Year. Photo by Cara Heise.
Posted: Apr 28, 2023

SAN DIEGO, CA (4/28/2023) -- After an offensive onslaught all season, Palomar College claimed their ninth consecutive conference championship and 40th overall. The Palomar Comets headlined this season's All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Teams and awards. Sophomore standout pitcher India Caldwell went back-to-back being named the Pitcher of teh Year and sophomroe Aaliyah Rivas was named Player of the Year. Palomar's coaching staff consisted of head coach Lacey Craft and assistants Mark Eldridge, Megan Wachholtz and Allie Hughen, were named Coahing Staff of the Year.

Caldwell picked up where she left off last season, but came back better. As the Comets concluded a perfect conference season, going 12-0, Caldwell tossed her first career perfect game against Imperial Valley College on Wednesday afternoon as the Comet offense supported her with 18 runs on 22 hits. Caldwell led the conference in strikeouts with 46 and averaged 10.06 per seven. She allowed just two runs on 12 hits for an ERA of 0.44. Rivas, who was primarily the designated player for the Comets through conference, had a slash line of .571/.643/1.190. In 21 plate appearances, she had 12 hits, including three home runs, two doubles and a triple for 14 RBI. 

The Comets also landed six additional players on the first team, Allyson Amato (1B/UTL), Faith Steffany (OF), Ellison Hazlett (C), Malachy Russell-Millen (2B/UTL), Guiliana "GiGi" Clavel (P) and Itzell De Los Rios (3B/UTL). San Diego Mesa College and Southwestern College each got two players on the list after finished second and third in the standings, respectively. Mesa's Hannah Anderson (CF) and Ambria Guye (3B/SS) were crucial to the Olympian's success this season. Anderson hit an impressive .607 during conference, driving in four runs. Guye hit .429 during the conference schedule and recorded two doubles and six RBI. Southwestern's Kassidy Harper (C) and Madison Mendez (P) also worked together as the main battery for the Jaguars.

Palomar had three picks on the second team, followed by four for San Diego Mesa and three for Southwestern. San Diego City College and Imperial Valley College each had one pick on the second team. A complete list can be found below.

Complete All-PCAC Teams

First Team

  • India Caldwell (P), Palomar
  • Aaliyah Rivas (3B/UTL), Palomar
  • Allyson Amato (1B/UTL), Palomar
  • Faith Steffany (OF), Palomar
  • Ellison Hazlett (C), Palomar
  • Malachy-Russell-Millen (2B/UTL), Palomar
  • Guiliana "GiGI" Clavel (P), Palomar
  • Itzell De Los Rios (3B/UTL), Palomar
  • Hannah Anderson (CF), San Diego Mesa
  • Ambria Guye (3B/SS), San Diego Mesa
  • Kassidy Harper (C), Southwestern
  • Madison Mendez (P), Southwestern

Second Team

  • Jonessa Hebreo (OF), Palomar
  • Elisa Haas (SS/UTL), Palomar
  • Cadee Herrmann (OF), Palomar
  • Arianna Izaguirre (P), San Diego Mesa
  • Carissa Topolinski (C), San Diego Mesa
  • Carlotta Gonzalez (RF), San Diego Mesa
  • Jolene Giles (1B), San Diego Mesa
  • Haley Oceguerra (2B), Southwestern
  • Elyssa Garcia (1B), Southwestern
  • Dani Sandez (CF), Southwestern
  • Lenika Padilla (P/OF), San Diego City
  • Shaylinn Mays (3B/SS/P), Imperial Valley

Honorable Mention

  • Liz Salcedo (3B/C/SS), Imperial Valley
  • Adriana Molina (CF), Imperial Valley
  • Kori Joniilonis (DP/OF/C), San Diego Mesa
  • Halle Sweiss (LF), San Diego Mesa
  • Valeria Castro (SS/3B), San Diego Mesa
  • Arianna Salazar (2B), San Diego Mesa
  • Ariana Hencke (OF), San Diego City
  • Jill Begley (P/OF), San Diego City
  • Jordan Beatty (SS), Southwestern