The accolades keep coming in for Palomar College softball player Breanna Lutz, who was recently named State Athlete of the Year by the California College Sports Information Association. It is just the second time that a softball player has been selected for the award.

The latest honor comes on top of numerous other awards for Lutz, who was described as one of the greatest softball players in the history of California Community College sports. In her two seasons at Palomar College, Lutz has been named National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Year, Southern California Player of the Year, MVP of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, and was state batting champion with a .560 batting average this year. (Compare that to professional baseball players, who average a .250 batting average.)

She struck out only twice in 184 plate appearances, and led the state in runs, hits and on-base percentage. The Palomar College Comets softball team, playing their first season on their new field, had a 44-5 record and made the state championship final, where they lost to San Mateo College.

Lutz said her teammates are the reason for her success.  “I love my teammates so much,” she said. “It’s all about the teamwork and the competition. It’s so much fun. I love to compete.”

Lutz said she comes from a family of athletes, with four older brothers who participated in sports and a father who played Double A baseball for the Chicago White Sox. She started playing baseball when she was eight years old but switched to softball at her father’s urging when she was 12.

She played softball at Ramona High School, and when she got few university scholarship offers, she decided to go to Palomar College. She’s glad she did.

“My coaches are so legit and I love every one of them,” Lutz said. “They taught me lessons that I never would have learned anywhere else. It was a great experience.”

Palomar College Softball Coach Lacey Craft described Lutz as a fiery and competitive player who was well-liked by teammates and fans. Lutz was the team’s leadoff hitter.

“She was somebody who immediately set the tone for our offense and games,” Craft said. “She immediately demoralized our opponents. She is a fun player to watch.”

Lutz graduated from Palomar College this spring with an associate degree in criminal justice. She is visiting several universities and expects to decide within a few weeks where she will transfer.

She plans to pursue a career in law enforcement, but she said she would seize an opportunity to have a career playing ball.

“That’s the dream – to play professional softball,” she said.