Former Comet rockets to NAIA Player of the Year honors

CLERMONT, Fla. - For the second straight season, former Palomar softball standout Kali Pugh has received NAIA first-team All-American recognition after helping lead Oklahoma City University to the NAIA Fast-Pitch Softball National Championship.

This time, Pugh was selected as NAIA National Player of the Year.

The Oklahoma City Stars went 68-1 and won the 2017 title with a 4-1 victory over Corban University of Salem, Oregon in the NAIA World Series championship game at Legends Way Ballfields.

For her senior season, Pugh hit .462 for the Stars with 23 doubles, 2 triples, 27 home runs and 86 RBIs as the Stars' leadoff hitter. The Rancho Buena Vista High School product had an .850 slugging percentage, stole 28 bases on 29 attempts and posted a .997 fielding percentage as Oklahoma 
City's shortstop, making only one error.

Under coach Lacey Craft at Palomar, Pugh was a two-time first-team all-state selection and was named California Community College Player of the Year after her freshman season in 2014 when she led the state in hitting.

As a sophomore, she led the Comets to the 2015 CCCAA State Chamionship.

Two of her brothers, Bubba Pugh and Gator Pugh, starred in football for the Comets.  Kali Pugh's former Palomar teammate, Valley Center High School product Stephanie Koisher, was a senior outfielder for Oklahoma City.

(Courtesy Palomar Athletics)