CHULA VISTA — A sign on the Mater Dei Catholic High School softball team’s dugout reads, “The Mater Dei Way: Always Play with Purpose, Intent, Focus.”
There should be an addendum to the sign: “And while you’re at it, win.”
On a breezy, sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at home, the Crusaders completed a remarkable 2026 season, beating La Habra 3-1 to win the Southern California Regional Division 1 title.
Mater Dei Catholic (31-3) became the first program to win back-to-back San Diego Section Open and SoCal Division 1 titles.
“This feeling is indescribable,” said junior catcher/designated player Charlize “Chuck” Masingale, a UCLA commit who went 1-for-3 and drove in a run. “I felt it last year, and it’s even more compounded this year. It’s just amazing.”
The Crusaders did it Saturday the way they have all season, the way they have for two straight seasons. University of Arizona-bound junior pitcher Arri Romero dominated in the circle, the Crusaders banged out 14 hits and played flawless defense.
Romero retired the first 12 hitters she faced, pitched a complete game and allowed just three hits, all singles. Her final 2026 record: 27-3 with a 1.06 ERA. She walked 16 batters and struck out 176.
“Arri was dominant today,” said Mater Dei co-head coach Liz Centrullo. “She does what Arri does.”
Asked what part of her repertoire was working, Romero said: “I’d say everything. To be able to keep them off balance was good.”
Romero’s two-year record is 51-7 with 32 walks and 318 strikeouts.
Mater Dei Catholic’s softball team celebrate their CIF Division 1 Southern California Regional final victory against La Habra High at Mater Dei Catholic High School on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The Crusaders defeated the Highlanders 3-0. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
La Habra coach Paul Caffrey, whose team finished 25-9, said his team faced four college-level pitchers this season.
“I think she’s the best we’ve seen,” Caffrey said of Romero. “She’s the best at filling up the (strike) zone. And they can swing it.”
Romero came within one out of a shutout. With runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh, La Habra’s Milee Valencia smacked a single to center. One runner scored, but Georgia Rickenbacker was gunned down at third base by center fielder Bella Harris, a senior bound for Cal Baptist.
It was Harris’ second assist of the game.
Romero, who led Mater Dei with 43 hits this season, opened the bottom of the first with a single and her courtesy runner scored on a groundout.
In a two-run Mater Dei third, Masingale and Sunny Sosa drove in runs with singles. Of Mater Dei’s 14 hits, 12 were singles. The outcome might have been more one-sided, but the Crusaders had two runners thrown out at the plate.
Before the season started, Mater Dei Catholic’s coaches and players agreed that if the team pulled off a trifecta, winning the Mesa League, Open Division and SoCal Regional titles, it would celebrate by going to Disneyland.
So there was Centrullo in the outfield after the game, the Crusaders bunched in front of her, yelling, “We just won the (champion)ship. Where are we going?”
“Disneyland!” the players screamed. Then they began chanting, “Disney! Disney! Disney!”
“The culture this year was absolutely phenomenal,” said Centrullo, whose team won its last 10 games. “These girls love each other. They love hanging out together. We had team bonding like none other and they planned it all because they wanted to hang out together. These girls love each other to the fullest.”