When El Toro’s Lauren Chamberlain, a two-time Register softball player of the year, shattered the Orange County single-season home run record with 17 homers in 2010, it seemed like a record that would be around for a pretty long time.
That was before Alyssa Palomino’s sophomore season at Mission Viejo. Palomino faced some of the toughest pitching in Southern California, playing in the Tournament of Champions, the Best of the West Tournament, the Saddleback Valley Tournament and in the South Coast League and she still managed to smash a county record 18 home runs.
She also hit .522, scored 50 runs and had 33 RBI on the way to being named co-MVP of the South Coast League. Palomino, who has already committed to Arizona, has been selected the Register’s softball player of the year.
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“I just went out there and did my thing,” said Palomino, who was first-team All-County as a freshman. “I just hit. I was there for my team. It was just happening.”
It’s hard not to compare Palomino to Chamberlain, who helped Oklahoma win the Women’s College World Series this week. Palomino has 25 career home runs and Chamberlain hit a county-record 46 from 2008-11.
Could that career record be next? Chamberlain sent out a Tweet congratulating Palomino when she broke the single-season record.
“It’s insane and she’s a stud,” Palomino said of Chamberlain. “What she does for Oklahoma right now is crazy. To be compared to her is just incredibly amazing.”
Like Chamberlain, Palomino bats in the lead-off spot, so Palomino can get the game off to a bang or draw a walk to set the table for her teammates. She had an astounding .660 on-base percentage, walked 18 times and was successful on all eight of her stolen base attempts.
“Alyssa’a presence on the field, in the batter’s box, in the dugout, is to win,” Mission Viejo coach Troy Ybarra said. “As our lead-off batter, she sets the game tone (and she’s) winning more often that not. When you’re on base 6.5 times out of 10 and score 50 runs, there is nobody better, especially when the rest of the lineup produces right behind her.”
Palomino rarely saw hittable pitches, but when she did the ball would fly off her bat.
“I just wait for my pitch and I hit it,” she said. “I’m patient most of the time, but if they make a mistake I’m on it.”
Palomino hit the record-tying home run in Mission Viejo’s victory over San Clemente in the regular-season finale. She broke the record in her first at-bat against Aliso Niguel in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. She knocked the second pitch she saw out of the park.
“I was just up there hitting,” Palomino said. “I didn’t expect it to go over (the fence).”
The most memorable of Palomino’s home runs came in Mission Viejo’s 1-0 victory over Capistrano Valley in the championship game of the Saddleback Valley Tournament. Palomino’s epic blast soared over the fence and landed in the playground at Alicia Park. It was an impressive shot that traveled an estimated 305 feet.
“I was just shocked,” Palomino said. “I didn’t think I could hit one that far. I was just … wow. It amazed me. … I never hit one like that in batting practice. I’ll hit them over the fence, but not like that.”
Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com
