LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Palomar College, the 3C2A state champions, was named the 2026 ATEC/NFCA Cal JC National Coaching Staff of the Year, the Association announced on Tuesday.
Under the direction of head coach Lacey Craft, the Comets captured their first state title since 2015 with a 13-0 victory over Saddleback College in the championship game. It marked the sixth state title in program history and the third with Craft in charge. The first three came under program founder and current assistant coach Mark Eldridge.
Craft, Eldridge and assistant coaches Farrrah Steffany and Kendall Kates guided the Comets to a 45-2 overall record, which included a 28-game win streak and a perfect 15-0 mark in Pacific Coast Conference play. It was their fourth consecutive undefeated conference campaign.
The top SoCal seed rolled through the 3C2A Championships with four wins, outscoring the opposition 54-5, including a 33-3 win in the opener against Santa Rosa and a 1-0 eight-inning nailbiter against two-time defending state champion College of San Mateo in the semifinals. Prior to the final eight, Palomar cruised to a SoCal Regional sweep of Ventura and was tested in its Super Regional, needing a winner-take-all victory (15-7) against Antelope Valley.
Headlined by NFCA Player of the Year Alexis Huey, Palomar ranked in the top three in 13 3C2A offensive statistical categories, including first in runs (487), hits (565), RBI (460), extra-base hits (188), total bases (913), batting average (.420) and on-base percentage (.497). They were second in at bats (1,345), triples (24), walks (190) and slugging (.679). The Comets are 89-7 over the last two seasons and have won at least 40 games in each of the last four seasons.
Craft and her staff will be recognized at the NFCA Awards Brunch on Dec. 12 at the 2026 NFCA Convention in Atlantic City, N.J.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded student-athlete awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
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