Photo by: Molly McPherson
Palomino-Cardoza Promoted to Assistant Coach
06/30/23 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Alyssa Palomino Cardoza has been promoted to assistant softball coach, head coach Melyssa Lombardi announced Friday. Palomino-Cardoza served as Oregon's volunteer assistant coach for the past two seasons.
Earlier this spring, the NCAA passed legislation that allows Division I baseball and softball programs to increase their full-time assistant coaches from two to three. The rule goes into effect July 1. Palomino-Cardoza joins Sam Marder and Sydney Romero on Lombardi's staff.
"Alyssa has worked tirelessly as an integral member of our staff," said Lombardi. "She bring so much to our program as an elite player and an elite coach who really relates with our team.
"Alyssa is huge part of what we are doing with our culture," said Lombardi "We are thrilled that we were able to retain her and keep her in the Oregon family."
Palomino-Cardoza, a two-time All-American and the 2018 Pac-12 home run champion for Arizona, was part of an Oregon staff that led the Ducks to the 2023 NCAA Super Regional round for the first time since 2018. Oregon was 38-17 overall and 14-10 in Pac-12 play in 2023. The Ducks also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 when they went 33-19.
Palomino-Cardoza helped mentor 2023 NFCA All-Americans Allee Bunker and Terra McGowan, who was also named the Diamond Sports national catcher of the year. She also worked with all-Pac-12 selections Bunker (2022-23), McGowan (2022-23), Hanna Delgado (2022-23), Morgan Scott (2023) and Stevie Hansen (2022).
"I am very excited to be back with Coach Lombardi and the rest of the staff," said Palomino-Cardoza. "Getting to work with the staff and the student-athletes here at Oregon has been nothing short of amazing. My faith led me to Eugene two years ago and has provided more than I can imagine. I am so blessed to be a Duck and I can't wait to get back to work with Version 6."
Prior to Oregon, Palomino-Cardoza capped an impressive collegiate career at Arizona in the spring of 2021 by leading the Wildcats to their second consecutive Women's College World Series appearance. She was named a NFCA first team All-American in 2018 and 2019, making her the first UA player to win back-to-back All-America honors in nearly a decade.
In her career, the four-time all-Pac-12 selection hit 69 home runs, which ranks eighth on Arizona's career list and is tied for 11th all-time in Pac-12 annals. She also finished her career with 53 doubles to rank tied-for-fourth in UA history.
Palomino-Cardoza was an all-Pac-12 first team selection in 2018 and 2019 and a second team pick in 2017 and 2021. She was a three-time Pac-12 all-defensive selection, including the 2019 season when she did not commit an error while starting all 62 games in center field for the Wildcats. She was also a four-time NFCA All-West Region first team honoree.
The five-year starter had a career batting average of .346, a .717 slugging percentage and an otherworldly OPS of 1.162. Palomino-Cardoza was also one of the best defenders in the Pac-12 with a .990 career fielding percentage.
She hit 19 home runs in the back-to-back seasons of 2018 and 2019, which lead the league in 2018 and ranked 11th nationally. As a freshman, Palomino-Cardoza hit 16 home runs with 54 RBI to help the Wildcats win the Pac-12 title in 2017.
Before Arizona, the Mission Viejo, Calif., native set the Junior World Women's Championship record with 27 RBI in the 10-game tournament. Palomino-Cardoza led the U.S. Junior National Team to a 10-0 record and the gold medal in the 2015 event and was named the USA Softball junior female athlete of the year.
She was a first-team high school All-America as a junior and senior, helping Mission Viejo High School to the national championship in 2014 and a state runner-up finish in 2015. Palomino-Cardoza also won three national titles with her club team, OC Batbusters.
- www.GoDucks.com -
Earlier this spring, the NCAA passed legislation that allows Division I baseball and softball programs to increase their full-time assistant coaches from two to three. The rule goes into effect July 1. Palomino-Cardoza joins Sam Marder and Sydney Romero on Lombardi's staff.
"Alyssa has worked tirelessly as an integral member of our staff," said Lombardi. "She bring so much to our program as an elite player and an elite coach who really relates with our team.
"Alyssa is huge part of what we are doing with our culture," said Lombardi "We are thrilled that we were able to retain her and keep her in the Oregon family."
Palomino-Cardoza, a two-time All-American and the 2018 Pac-12 home run champion for Arizona, was part of an Oregon staff that led the Ducks to the 2023 NCAA Super Regional round for the first time since 2018. Oregon was 38-17 overall and 14-10 in Pac-12 play in 2023. The Ducks also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 when they went 33-19.
Palomino-Cardoza helped mentor 2023 NFCA All-Americans Allee Bunker and Terra McGowan, who was also named the Diamond Sports national catcher of the year. She also worked with all-Pac-12 selections Bunker (2022-23), McGowan (2022-23), Hanna Delgado (2022-23), Morgan Scott (2023) and Stevie Hansen (2022).
"I am very excited to be back with Coach Lombardi and the rest of the staff," said Palomino-Cardoza. "Getting to work with the staff and the student-athletes here at Oregon has been nothing short of amazing. My faith led me to Eugene two years ago and has provided more than I can imagine. I am so blessed to be a Duck and I can't wait to get back to work with Version 6."
Prior to Oregon, Palomino-Cardoza capped an impressive collegiate career at Arizona in the spring of 2021 by leading the Wildcats to their second consecutive Women's College World Series appearance. She was named a NFCA first team All-American in 2018 and 2019, making her the first UA player to win back-to-back All-America honors in nearly a decade.
In her career, the four-time all-Pac-12 selection hit 69 home runs, which ranks eighth on Arizona's career list and is tied for 11th all-time in Pac-12 annals. She also finished her career with 53 doubles to rank tied-for-fourth in UA history.
Palomino-Cardoza was an all-Pac-12 first team selection in 2018 and 2019 and a second team pick in 2017 and 2021. She was a three-time Pac-12 all-defensive selection, including the 2019 season when she did not commit an error while starting all 62 games in center field for the Wildcats. She was also a four-time NFCA All-West Region first team honoree.
The five-year starter had a career batting average of .346, a .717 slugging percentage and an otherworldly OPS of 1.162. Palomino-Cardoza was also one of the best defenders in the Pac-12 with a .990 career fielding percentage.
She hit 19 home runs in the back-to-back seasons of 2018 and 2019, which lead the league in 2018 and ranked 11th nationally. As a freshman, Palomino-Cardoza hit 16 home runs with 54 RBI to help the Wildcats win the Pac-12 title in 2017.
Before Arizona, the Mission Viejo, Calif., native set the Junior World Women's Championship record with 27 RBI in the 10-game tournament. Palomino-Cardoza led the U.S. Junior National Team to a 10-0 record and the gold medal in the 2015 event and was named the USA Softball junior female athlete of the year.
She was a first-team high school All-America as a junior and senior, helping Mission Viejo High School to the national championship in 2014 and a state runner-up finish in 2015. Palomino-Cardoza also won three national titles with her club team, OC Batbusters.
- www.GoDucks.com -
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