CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — Growing up in softball, Tiare Jennings had a routine around the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

The future OU softball star and her sister, Tele, would skip school on the Friday of the event, making the two-hour drive from the San Pedro area of Los Angeles to the center of the college softball universe.

Saturdays were for playing softball, then they’d head back to the Coachella Valley on Sunday to take in the action again.

The Big League Dreams complex was once again the epicenter of the sport Friday, but this year is extra special.

Not only is it Tiare’s final season playing college softball, but Tele made her Mary Nutter debut playing for San Diego.

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Friday night, both teams were scheduled to play at the same time, making life difficult on the Jennings family as they bounced back and forth between fields to watch as much as possible.

Many in the family wore sweatshirts with the OU and San Diego logos on the front, and “Jennings 23” on the back in Sooners’ crimson and Toreros blue with a Polynesian pattern to represent their Samoan culture.

Both sisters share the same number.

They also wore kukui-nut leis with the logos of both schools.

“We’re very family-oriented, which was a huge part of why Tiare chose to go to Oklahoma,” said their father, Nacio Jennings. “It was the family atmosphere.”

The event took on a family reunion feel for the Jennings.

Not only did they have Tiare and Tele playing, getting time to socialize with the other players’ families on both teams, but Friday’s first OU game was played against Mississippi State.

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Bulldogs sophomore infielder Kiarra Sells is Tiare’s cousin.

Tiare and Tele’s parents, Nacio and Maria, shared hug after hug, finding some time to watch softball in between.

They estimated 30-40 family or close friends were in attendance.

It’s not just family, though.

There are parents from UCLA and San Diego State and UC Santa Barbara and more.

“There’s so many softball families that have just become family, to be honest with you,” Nacio said.

Because the Sooners’ opener was significantly delayed, by the time Tiare and her OU teammates made their walk into the park, Tele’s Toreros were already on the field.

“That definitely made my heart to see her,” Tiare said. “It’s so much fun having my family here. It definitely means the world, but being my last one, it is bittersweet.”

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Because it’s her last one, Tiare said she’s taking it all in — from the games to the interactions with young fans to the sandwiches.

“Today we were reminiscing on all of our old memories of watching, coming to the Mary Nutter,” Tiare said. “Me, Alyssa Brito, Kinzie Hansen, all of us since we were pretty much 13 years old coming to these tournaments.

“We were making jokes like we need to get our lemonade, our tri-tip sandwich, all of that.”

The group of players from California passed around their phones, looking at pictures they’d taken during visits in the past.

“It just definitely means the world to us,” Tiare said. “This tournament is so much fun, just to see the next generation of softball players at our games.”

Tiare isn’t the only one.

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“I’m just trying to savor every moment, especially with Tiare, it being her last year,” Nacio said. “I’m great friends, families with Levi Alo, Jocelyn’s dad, and he brings it up. ‘Enjoy every moment of it, because when it ends, even if they play pro or whatever it’ll never be the same. It’s not the same in terms of college competition, the life.'

“It’s been a blessing. It’s been a huge blessing.”

Late in OU’s first game Friday, a 9-3 win over Mississippi State, Jennings passed Lauren Chamberlain for second on the Sooners’ all-time RBI list, behind only Jocelyn Alo.

“I didn’t even know that but it’s such an honor,” Tiare said. “Lauren’s a big part of this program and she always will be. Just being able to be in the same name as her is an honor, as well. Just representing this program with everything I can give for my last season is all I want to do.”

As the Jennings family stood watching their daughters play, dozens of young softball players darted in between them, watching plenty of softball and soaking in the atmosphere.

“It’s surreal to see all the little girls here watching,” Jennings said. “Because my girls were them.

“For them to be in here now, it’s pretty cool.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Mary Nutter Classic is family reunion for OU softball's Tiare Jennings