BAKERSFIELD (5-19-2013) (REVISED 5-20-2013) -- Mercedes Montanez went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI on Sunday afternoon, giving Palomar a 7-2 win over Riverside City College for its fourth CCCAA State Softball Championship.

Earlier, coach Lacey Craft's Comets had defeated College of San Mateo 5-4 on Friday night and Shasta 4-3 on Saturday to capture the winners' bracket of the double-elimination tournament. RCC, battling out of the losers bracket after an opening-round loss to Shasta, handed Palomar an 8-2 loss earlier Sunday to force an "if necessary" game.

In the final game at the Dean & Adah Gay Sports Complex, Palomar jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning.

Megan Bartee led off the game by singling to right field. Maren Lebsock reached base on a sacrifice fielder's choice, putting runners at first and second with none out.

With one out, Brenna Parker was safe at first on a fielder's choice, with Lebsok being forced at second and Bartee advancing to third.

Paige Falconieri reached on an error by RCC's right fielder. Parker advanced to third and Bartee came home to put the Comets up 1-0. Montanez singled to drive in Parker, making it 2-0.

Palomar then added two runs in the second inning one in the fourth and two in the fifth to open a 7-0 lead on the Tigers, the top seed out of Southern California and the Orange Empire Conference champions.

That's the way it remained until Riverside scored its only two runs in the bottom of the seventh on Olivia Fimbress' two-run home run to left field.

Winning pitcher Parker, who took a two-hit shutout into the seventh, allowed four hits in the inning but worked her way out of a late jam to leave two Riverside runners stranded and give the Comets (33-14) their first state title since 2000.

Carlie  Daniel and Jasmine Vogel each had a single and an RBI for the Comets. Kristin George drove in two runs.

Palomar and Riverside were tied 0-0 throuigh the first four innings of Sunday's first game. The Tigers took  a 1-0 lead in the fifth and went on to win the g ame.

Parker hit a solo home run for the Comets. Bartee went  2-for-3 with a steal and George had the other hit.

Lebsock, the second baseman, fielded a groundball and threw out Riverside's Courtney Brown at first for the final out of the championship game and the tournament.

Palomar won its first two state championships in 1989 and 1993. Mark Eldridge, now retired as head coach but currently Craft's No. 1 assistant, coached the Comets to their previous three state titles. He was inducted into the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December.

The Tigers finished the season 45-6.

SOFTBALL: State Tournament Awards

BAKERSFIELD (5-19-2013) -- Palomar's newly-crowned State champions took home three individual awards from the state tournament.

Carlie Daniel (left) was named tournament Most Valuable Player. Brenna Parker (right) was named Most Valuable Pitcher. Shortstop Megan Bartee received the Golden Glove Award. The only individual award that eluded the Comets went to Natalie Barrios, Riverside's leadoff batter, who was named Outstanding Hitter.