Editor's note: Star reporter Norma Gonzalez is in Los Angeles for the Arizona Wildcats' NCAA Super Regional against UCLA. She'll be live-tweeting tonight's game from @TheWildcaster .
LOS ANGELES — There was no way they were going to miss it.
Alyssa Palomino’s parents, aunts, uncle, cousins and grandmother Nonnie all made the drive over from Orange County to Easton Stadium for the NCAA Super Regional between rivals Arizona and UCLA. If anything, the series — three games (hopefully) in three games — is serving as a great way for the family to break in its brand-new Honda Odyssey.
The redshirt sophomore’s parents, Jesse and Leslie Cardoza, bought the minivan last week with future trips to Tucson in mind. They travel to Tucson a few times during the regular season, but first comes the Super Regionals.
The group, decked out in bright red Arizona shirts, tailgated before Friday's Game 2 in the parking lot across from Easton Stadium.
Those who couldn’t make it to the game stayed behind in the Cardoza household to watch the game, Leslie said.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way. Having a big family outing makes it better than if they wouldn’t have come along,” said Jesse Cardoza, Alyssa's father. “She has a big family that supports her all the way and the more we can give the merrier.”
Arizona softball runs deeper in the extended family than just through Palomino. Her aunts Toni Mascarenas and Leneah Manuma both played for Arizona. Mascarenas graduated in 2001 and Manuma a year later.
Mascarenas said she tries to impart some of her knowledge of the game and what it takes to have a successful postseason on Palomino.
“I just try to get her to be a leader. At the plate, to be a tough out,” Mascarenas said. “Once postseason comes, it really doesn’t matter what you do as long as your team wins, and to do whatever it takes to get your team to win.”
But it was tough watching the team get completely discombobulated by UCLA yesterday. The Bruins scored early and cruised to a 7-1 win. The Wildcats must win Friday night to stay alive.
Palomino, who is playing in her first postseason this year after suffering two ACL tears in previous years, wasn’t able to get on base in Thursday’s Super Regional Game 1. The first baseman was struck out twice and popped up in her third at bat.
Mascarenas said the family is pretty hard on Palomino, but they know it’s not easy. There’s always another game.
“We try to help her as much as we can, we get frustrated at times, but know that there’s always another game like today,” Mascarenas said. “You can go 0-3 yesterday and 3-3 today. It’s a game of averages.”
Palomino’s cousin Easton Mascarenas had a different take on Palomino’s performance.
“She did terrible,” Easton said amid backseat laughs with his cousin Akili Arnold.
Regardless, the family said they’re thrilled to finally be able to watch Palomino in the postseason. And they’re hoping for a better outcome Friday than Thursday’s 7-1 loss.
“I think we expect them to come out a little harder and hit the ball,” Jesse Cardoza said.
