Huey's Blast, Flaviani's Gem Send Palomar Back to Title Game

Bakersfield, Calif. –  The Palomar Comets notched a thrilling 1-0, extra-innings victory over San Mateo to clinch a spot in tomorrow's 3C2A Softball Championship Game behind timely hitting and shut-down pitching on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Alexis Huey, the NFCA Player of the Year and the 3CFCA Southern California Player of the Year, blasted her 26th home run of the season, giving Palomar a 1-0 advantage in the eighth inning. Huey, who had been hitless through her first three at bats, hammered a pitch at the bottom of the strike zone just beneath the scoreboard in right center field.

The game was a true pitchers' duel between two of the state's best, Kiara Flaviani and Lola Sierra. Each was masterful, throwing seven shutout innings before Palomar broke the tie in the eighth. 

The victor, Flaviani, had her best outing of the tournament, allowing just two hits, and at one point, retiring 19-straight Bulldogs from the first through seventh innings. She struck out seven hitters and walked only two. It was her first time all season throwing seven or more shutout innings in a game – her previous best was six scoreless against El Camino on March 25.

Sierra's line was equally impressive. The first-year southpaw spun eight innings of one-run ball with nine punchouts, tying a tournament high. She surrendered just three hits.

The Comets and Bulldogs each played stellar defense, committing no errors in the contest.

STAND OUT PERFORMERS/NOTES

• Alexis Huey hit her fourth homer of the tournament in three games played. She's driven in 11 runs

• Flaviani has pitched 15.1 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out 14 at the state tourney.

• Palomar avenged a pair of loses to San Mateo in the 2025 championship, San Mateo won both meetings a year ago 4-2 in round one and 7-4 in the title game.

UP NEXT

Palomar moves into the title game with a 3-0 record. San Mateo will return to the Gay Sports Complex at Bakersfield College to take on the winner of Saddleback vs. Santa Rosa at 6 p.m. this evening. Tomorrow's title game is 12 p.m., with a second game approximately 30 minutes afterwards if necessary.

Courtesy of Joe Perrino, 3CFCA SID