College of the Desert Baseball Wins Conference Title, Eyes Historic Season Finish

The Roadrunners have transformed their program and are now chasing a record-breaking season.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:10am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, geometric painting in bold blues, greens, and yellows, abstracting a college baseball game into sharp, overlapping planes and shapes, conveying the dynamic energy and success of the College of the Desert Roadrunners.A cubist interpretation of the College of the Desert baseball team's conference championship and historic season, capturing the energy and momentum of their remarkable turnaround.Palm Springs Today

The College of the Desert men's baseball team has won the Inland Empire Conference championship, marking just the second conference title in program history. But the bigger story is the complete turnaround of the Roadrunners over the past several years under head coach Sam DiMatteo and assistant coach Casey Dill. The team has become a top junior college pipeline, attracting talent from across the country and shifting local perceptions. Now, the Roadrunners have a chance to reach 32 wins, which would be the most in program history, as they prepare for the upcoming regional playoffs.

Why it matters

College of the Desert's baseball program has undergone a remarkable transformation, going from a struggling team to one of the top junior college programs in California. This turnaround has helped shift the perception of the school and attract more local talent, while also providing a pipeline for players to move on to four-year universities. The team's success this season is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the coaching staff and players.

The details

When DiMatteo and Dill took over the program in 2019, they inherited a team that struggled with reputation and recruiting. But they quickly turned things around, focusing on recruiting talent from across the country. This approach has paid off, with the Roadrunners becoming one of the top junior college pipelines in California for sending players to four-year schools. This season, several players are putting up standout performances, including an outfielder ranked among the top five in batting average, RBIs, and stolen bases, and pitchers like Matt Wallin and Caleb Ortiz leading the way on the mound.

  • The College of the Desert men's baseball team won the Inland Empire Conference championship in 2026.
  • The Roadrunners have four games remaining in the 2026 season.

The players

Sam DiMatteo

The head coach of the College of the Desert baseball team, who took over the program in 2019 and has led the team's remarkable turnaround.

Casey Dill

The assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the College of the Desert baseball team, who has helped the program attract top talent from across the country.

Matt Wallin

A pitcher for the College of the Desert baseball team, who is among the leaders in wins this season.

Caleb Ortiz

A pitcher for the College of the Desert baseball team, who has posted an impressive 1.6 ERA this season.

College of the Desert Roadrunners

The men's baseball team at College of the Desert, which has won the Inland Empire Conference championship and is chasing a record-breaking season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Over the past several years, the program has become one of the top junior college pipelines in California for sending players to four-year schools. That success has helped shift perception, with more local talent now choosing to stay and play for COD.”

— Sam DiMatteo, Head Coach

“A strong sense of unity, accountability, and pride has helped fuel the team's success.”

— Casey Dill, Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator

What’s next

Regional playoff matchups are expected to be announced soon, and NBC Palm Springs Sports Desk will have continuing coverage as the postseason gets underway.

The takeaway

College of the Desert's baseball program has undergone a remarkable transformation, going from a struggling team to one of the top junior college programs in California. This turnaround has helped shift the perception of the school, attract more local talent, and provide a pipeline for players to move on to four-year universities. The team's success this season is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the coaching staff and players, and they now have a chance to make history with a record-breaking season.