You Won't Believe What Palomar College's Power Hitters are Hiding—Discover Their Secret Weapon Now!

Palomar College’s baseball team embodies a unique blend of talent and strategy, showcasing what many would call a split personality. At the heart of their lineup are two of the leading power hitters in local community college baseball: Elijah Stephens and Michael Rodda. Yet surrounding them is a collective of players known more for their ability to get on base than for launching home runs.

“We have a very interesting team,” said Comets center fielder Justin Tucker. “Everybody in our lineup brings something to the plate. It works because everyone concentrates on what they do best. What we do best as a team is make the pitcher work.”

Echoing Tucker's sentiments, Palomar head coach Ben Adams noted, “This is a non-sexy team that does a very good job. The offense is efficient. The pitching is good. The defense is dependable. Overall, it’s a very good team.”

And indeed, the Comets have had a very good season. They wrapped up a remarkable 34-5 regular season last week, clinching their fifth consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title with an impressive 23-2 record. Entering the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs this week, they are positioned as the second-ranked team in the state and the top-ranked team in Southern California.

Palomar has dominated statistics across the board, leading the state in scoring with an average of 11.4 runs per game, a team batting average of .357, and a stellar on-base percentage of .477. They also ranked third in the state for walks (246) and were hit by pitches (103) a notable 103 times this season.

“We have a lineup packed with grinders and table setters,” Adams explained. “We have two big guns and five or six guys who could be lead-off hitters. It seems we always have runners on base, because we have players who will do anything to get on.”

Those “big guns” are hard to miss. Freshman designated hitter and left-handed pitcher Elijah Stephens stands nearly 6-foot-8 and weighs 250 pounds, while sophomore first baseman/right-handed pitcher Michael Rodda measures 6-foot-4 and tips the scales at 210 pounds. Together, they have combined for an impressive 21 home runs, driving in 114 runs this season.

Stephens, who was a second-team All-CIF forward at Sage Creek High School last year, made the decision to leave basketball to pursue baseball, a sport he has long favored. Although he originally thought his future lay in pitching, he has made waves at the plate this season, winning the PCAC Triple Crown with a batting average of .455, 12 home runs, and 62 RBIs. He finished the season ranked second in the state in RBIs, fifth in batting average, and tied for fifth in home runs.

Despite attracting interest from Division I college programs and Major League scouts, Stephens remains focused. “But I don’t want to talk about what I might be doing,” he stated. “Right now, we’re all concentrating on Palomar and the playoffs.”

Rodda, who bats in the cleanup spot behind Stephens, contributed a .398 batting average with nine home runs and 52 RBIs. “But the key is the rest of the lineup,” Adams reiterated. “Guys get on. They work the pitcher, get on and come around because the guys behind them are getting on.”

Here’s a closer look at the Comets’ lineup:

• LF Braedon Peterson Cheek: .397 batting average/.571 on-base percentage; 42 walks, 49 runs
• RF platoon of Gavin Malcomson: .270/.432 and Gavin Kramer: .356/.430
• DH Elijah Stephens
• 1B Michael Rodda
• CF Justin Tucker: .373/.561; known more for football in high school
• SS Preston Conklin: .354/.484; moved from 3B due to injury
• 2B Jacob Loving: .377/.447
• C Rainn McMillan: .342/.458
• 3B Adrian Macias: .299/.415

Tucker, who views himself as a second leadoff hitter, stated, “I’ll do anything to get on; I take pride in that. But that’s a team-wide attitude here. We take team-wide pride in our approach at working the pitcher. This team views on-base percentage as a more important statistic than batting average, though being high in both is better.”

While the majority of Palomar’s position players hail from Murrieta and Temecula, Adams strategically recruits local talent for pitching. The playoff opener will see left-hander Ryan Herrod (8-1, 3.75 ERA) taking the mound. Right-hander Joey Navarro (Mission Hills) has also impressed with an 8-1 record in 14 starts and a 4.22 ERA.

“The third starter is important in the postseason, the way our playoffs are designed,” Adams explained. He plans to utilize Stephens (1-0 with a 2.70 ERA) in this role. “Elijah came to us as a pitcher who could hit. He can really hit, which is why we use him as the DH when he pitches.”

“I actually like pitching a little more than hitting,” said Stephens. “I feel like I’m more on offense when I’m pitching.”

Right-hander Angel Barron (Imperial High School; 1.25 ERA) serves as the primary bridge reliever, while right-hander Joey Halter (Westview High School; 2.20 ERA, five saves) is the closer, rounding out a solid pitching staff.

This season has been an impressive showcase of talent and teamwork for the Comets, who are eager to make their mark as they enter the playoffs. Whether through patience at the plate or sheer power, Palomar College's baseball team has proven to be a force to reckon with in community college baseball.