Comets finish second in state, capping one of the finest seasons in program history

IRVINE, CA (5/25/2026) -- The Palomar College Comets finished their 2026 season where only the very best programs in California get to finish, playing for a state championship. Santa Ana College earned the title with wins of 19-3 and 7-4 on Monday at Great Park, but the Comets' runner-up finish stands as one of the program's greatest achievements. In a state as deep as California, finishing second is no small thing.

In the morning game, Santa Ana got hot early and never cooled off, building a lead the Comets couldn't overcome despite a home run and two RBI from Elijah Stephens. The afternoon brought another fight. Stephens homered twice, a solo shot in the first and a two-run blast in the third, to give Palomar a 4-1 lead and real belief. Andrew Phillips was masterful in relief for the Dons, however, retiring 21 of the last 22 batters he faced to close out the championship. Stephens finished the two games with three home runs and five RBI, a fitting final line for the player who defined this season.

Santa Ana finished 44-7-1 and were worthy champions.

The season Palomar put together to get to this moment was remarkable. The Comets won their fifth consecutive PCAC Championship, became the first program in school history to win 40 games in a single season, and finished 43-8 against one of the most demanding schedules in the 3C2A. Head Coach Ben Adams was named PCAC Coach of the Year, Stephens earned both Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors in a historic two-way season, and a pitching staff that went nine deep gave the Comets a chance to win every time they took the field. Reaching the state championship game takes a complete team playing its best baseball at the right time, and that is exactly what Palomar did in 2026.