When softball historians revisit Carlsbad High School’s 2025 season, they will scratch their heads and ask, “What happened?”

A program that suffered just one losing record the previous 14 seasons finished 8-15. Later, Carlsbad was dropped from Division 1 to Division 2.

“We were a little bummed when we saw that,” coach Jared Miller said.

All of which makes Carlsbad’s 2026 season all the more fascinating. The Lancers are 11-0, ranked No. 2 in the San Diego Section by both the Union-Tribune and MaxPreps.com and own four wins over Division 1 teams — including a 3-1 victory over reigning Open Division champion Mater Dei Catholic.

“No, I’m not embarrassed about last year,” said junior catcher Chloe Hernandez, who has committed to the University of Nevada. “I think it was a necessity as a building year.”

Added pitcher Sofia Tillis, who has committed to UC San Diego: “For me, I think it was a reality check.”

Standing in the Del Norte High School visitors’ dugout after a 6-1 win late Tuesday, Tillis and Hernandez said there were chemistry problems last year.

“We just weren’t as close,” said Tillis.

“We just didn’t have enough trust in each other,” added Hernandez.

There were extenuating factors that led to the 8-15 record. After transferring from Coastal Academy, Tillis had to sit out the first six weeks of the season. The pitcher who was supposed to handle the bulk of the innings until Tillis was eligible suffered a knee injury in the first inning of the first game of the season and didn’t return until late in the year.

As a result, the Lancers allowed an average of 6.9 runs per game. This season, Carlsbad is permitting 1.5 runs per game. For the run-prevention improvement, you need to look no further than the girl in the circle for the Lancers.

Before the season’s first pitch, Miller said Tillis had taken “a big jump.”

She has proven her coach correct. A year ago, Tillis logged a 3.52 ERA. She gave up 85 hits in 65 1/3 innings, striking out 42.

This year, she’s 10-0 with a 0.54 ERA. She’s given up 26 hits in 52 1/3 innings and struck out 98. In the win over Del Norte, Tillis struck out 15, including the first six outs of the game.

“Her stuff, it was dynamite,” said Del Norte coach Keith Carden.

Miller plays co-ed softball. In the softball offseason during his co-ed games, he would often see Tillis in a batting cage, pitching to her father.

“She put a ton of time into perfecting her craft,” Miller said. “Her velocity is up significantly. If you could paint a picture of the perfect offseason, in terms of growth, it would be Sofia. She just has a dog mentality.”

In the 3-1 win over Mater Dei Catholic in the championship game of the Cougar Classic’s Diamond Bracket, Tillis outpitched the Crusaders’ Arri Romero, the section’s reigning pitcher of the year.

Tillis logged seven innings, giving up seven hits and one earned run, striking out eight and walking one. Romero pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs, striking out four and walking none.

Of his 5-foot-2 pitcher, Miller said: “She wants to be the best and is going to do whatever it takes to do it.”

At the plate, the Lancers are mashing in 2026. After averaging 4.0 runs per game last year, they’re crossing the plate 8.2 times per game in ’26.

Four batters are averaging .393 or higher, led by Hernandez and center fielder Gabriela Nevarez. Hernandez launched three home runs in a season-opening 12-1 win over Hilltop. She’s hitting .647 (22 for 34) with six home runs and 24 RBIs.

Nevarez, who has committed to the University of Arizona, is hitting .594 (19 for 32) with eight home runs and 13 RBIs; she has scored 21 runs.

Despite beating Mater Dei Catholic earlier in the season, the teams flip-flopped in the Union-Tribune’s Top 10 poll this week, with Carlsbad dropping to No. 2.

“I don’t pay attention to that stuff,” said Miller.

His players apparently do.

“They have a better history than we do,” said Nevarez.

MDC has won eight section titles over the past 16 years. Carlsbad owns one championship in that span.

The teams will not meet again this season unless it’s in the state playoffs.

“We just want to win,” said Tillis. “First CIF, then state.”

Nevarez left no doubt who she thinks is the San Diego Section’s best team.

“If we keep working hard, we can show that we will be better than Mater Dei,” she said. “And we’re better than Mater Dei right now.”