Comets advance to Super Regional with 14-4 dismantling of Mt. SAC

SAN MARCOS, CA (5/3/2026) -- The No. 1 seed Palomar College Comets are headed to the Super Regional. Joey Navarro dominated on the mound, the offense poured it on from the third inning forward, and Palomar put away No. 16 Mt. San Antonio College 14-4 Sunday morning at Bob Vetter Field to sweep through the 2026 3C2A SoCal Regional and improve to 37-5 on the season.

Navarro was the backbone of the win, working six innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out four. He navigated traffic early and kept the Mounties from building any momentum, handing the bullpen a comfortable lead to protect. Cody Cappelletti followed with two spotless innings, retiring all six batters he faced, before Joey Halter closed things out in the ninth.

Palomar broke the game open with three runs in the third and six more in the fourth, sending the crowd of 650 into a frenzy. Braedon Peterson-Cheek was relentless all afternoon, going 3-for-6 with three doubles and three RBI. Justin Tucker drove in three with a double and a single, Elijah Stephens went 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Michael Rodda knocked in two. Jacob Loving, Rainn McMillan, Gavin Malcomson, and Adrian Macias each contributed RBI as Palomar spread the damage across the entire lineup.

Mt. San Antonio fell to 24-19 on the season. Andrew Alva drove in two for the Mounties in a valiant run through the regional as the defending state champions.

Palomar will host the Super Regional next weekend at Bob Vetter Field. The Comets' opponent will be determined Monday when Saddleback College and College of the Desert meet at 1 p.m. Game one of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m., game two on Friday at 1 p.m., and an if-necessary game three on Saturday at noon.