Other articles by Patrick Finley:

Olson's return, KU add intrigue to UA schedule Rush in a real hurry to know playoff fate Two former Cats earn calls to play for their country Jennings to sign multiyear contract in Italy Good vibrations, doubts lie ahead Cyclist touring USA, July 4 to Sept. 11, for fallen friend Recruit hastens plans for Wildcats While you were out… Olson says he's done with one-and-dones Mowatt finding her way in professional circles

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Brittany Lastrapes isn't trying to give the Arizona Wildcats' regional opponents extra motivation.

But honestly, she's clueless about the three New York teams in the UA's softball bracket — Canisius, Long Island and Hofstra.

"We played Long Island, but I hadn't heard of the other two," the freshman said. "Is that mean?"

If anything, it underscores the territorial nature of the NCAA tournament, which begins Friday when the Wildcats play Canisius at 9 a.m.

The UA, despite being seeded No. 7 overall in the tournament, drew a regional against three teams from the Empire State in Hempstead on Long Island.

As of 2 p.m. Monday, interim head coach Larry Ray said his team had yet to find a flight. The Wildcats were looking at taking a chartered plane.

How rare is that? The Wildcats fly commercially to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, and, per Pac-10 rules, are banned from flying charters during the regular season.

Ray would like to see the top eight teams in the tournament given an automatic home series.

"Don't penalize us for being one of the top eight teams in the country," he said.

The Wildcats' cross-country flight marks the first time anyone on the team has traveled anywhere but Oklahoma City for the postseason.

"I was a little bit tripped out when I found out," senior catcher Callista Balko said. "I had absolutely no idea we'd be going away."

Balko might find some way to pass the time. She has a take-home final for her African-American Studies class due Friday, though she would like to finish it before then.

"If not, I'll be typing the whole plane ride over there," she said.

Pitcher Taryne Mowatt — whose only other trip to New York included a viewing of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" on Broadway — guessed she would "probably take some sleeping pills and sleep the entire six hours" on the plane.

Then there's the matter of the double-elimination regional.

"It doesn't matter what it says across the other teams' jerseys," Ray said. "We're going to go out and play like it's our very last game or we're at the College World Series."

If they win, the Wildcats would likely be rewarded with hosting rights for a super regional.

"The only team I've really heard of is Long Island," Balko said. "But you can't play the name game."

With good reason. The UA lost seven games this year to teams not ranked in the Top 25.

Last year, the Wildcats lost only one game against an unranked foe.

"I think this team doesn't need to be reminded," Balko said. "Because we've definitely been beaten by teams that aren't even ranked."

And maybe five or six hours on the plane will let the Wildcats stew just a little bit more.

"For them to send us on the road, maybe it will get the team pumped up," Mowatt said.