Lainey Llamas and Alexis Kyles were all of 7 years old, hair tied in ponytails, playing rec softball in 4S Ranch. One would pitch, the other would catch — and then they’d switch positions. They were all-stars together that summer.
There were more rec league games on the same field, more all-star weekends.
The past four years, Llamas and Kyles played side by side at Del Norte High School. The last two years, Kyles was the fleet, athletic shortstop, Llamas the slugging second baseman. They hit one-two in the batting order, Kyles leading off and Llamas knocking her in.
With Llamas having signed to play collegiately at Loyola Marymount and Kyles inked to Colorado State, they dubbed themselves “The D1 Duo.”
Said Del Norte coach Keith Carden: “They’re kind of joined at the hip.”
Del Norte High School’s Lainey Llamas, left, celebrates with teammate and longtime friend Alexis “Lulu” Kyles after setting her school’s home run record. (Lainey Llamas)
Tuesday night at San Diego State, the friends may have played their last game together. Both took part in the CIF San Diego Section All-Star Game.
“It’s been fun knowing we can rely on each other,” said Llamas.
“I recall so many moments when we were younger,” said Kyles.
Her favorite? When both gashed their elbow skin open on the 4S Ranch 10U all-star team.
Poway coach Jim Bennet has faced the Del Norte stars for four years.
“They’re wonderful,” said Bennet. “They drove that team for four years.”
Del Norte High’s Alexis Kyles and Lainey Llamas pose before the CIF San Diego Section All-Star Softball game at San Diego State University on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Statistically, Llamas and Kyles are virtual clones in some categories. Llamas hit .389 for her career, Kyles .392. Llamas smacked 139 hits in her career, Kyles 136.
But in other ways, they’re very different. The 5-foot-5 Llamas is a slugger. She clubbed 11 home runs this season, 22 for her career, both school records.
Despite her modest size, Llamas said her power comes from “making sure all the different parts of my swing, hands, legs and hips go sequentially to maximize bat speed and efficiency.”
At 5-foot-3, Kyles is cat-quick. She set the Del Norte school record with 48 career stolen bases.
Besides the obvious speed, Kyles said sliding plays a big factor in base stealing, where she slides headfirst.
“When you slide headfirst, it makes you smaller in a way, harder to tag,” said Kyles.
One reason she likes sliding headfirst: She gets dirty.
“It’s fun going all out,” she said.
Kyles is the quiet, lead-by-example type. Llamas, the Palomar League Player of the Year, is more vocal.
“Lainey tries to build everyone up, tries to get everyone involved,” said Carden. “She’s so positive. We could be down 20 runs, which didn’t happen, and you’d still get the same attitude, still going to get the same fight, still going to get the same passion.”
Both girls are deft with the glove. In a playoff win against Escondido Charter, Kyles dived to her left, quickly sprang to her feet and gunned out the batter.
“That wasn’t a surprise play for us,” said Carden. “Don’t get me wrong. It was amazing. But that’s a play she made every single day in practice.”
Bennet remembers in the 2024 Open Division championship game when Llamas, playing third base, flew in to field a ball barely tapped down the line, fielded the ball with her glove hand and without transferring to her right hand, flipped the ball to the catcher for an out.
Said Bennet: “Not too many girls can make that play.”
High school softball players who play travel ball lace up their cleats for about 95-100 games a year. Multiply that times four years, and that’s roughly 400 games. Tuesday night’s game was an exhibition. Scholarships assured, there was no pressure on “The D1 Duo.” But the night was special.
“It reminds me of where I got my softball roots,” said Llamas.
“It’s the last time I’ll play in front of some family and friends,” said Kyles.
Kyles’ father called her “Lexi Lou” when she was 7. That was shortened to “Lulu,” which is what most everyone calls her. Llamas calls her “Lex.” Another nickname for the pair: “L&L.”
“Playing next to each other, if there’s one word to describe what’s it’s been like,” said Llamas, “it’s ‘electric.’”
Spargo wins Home Run Derby
West Hills’ Katy Spargo won Tuesday’s Home Run Derby before the All-Star Game. Eight players entered. In the first round, players were given 90 seconds to hit homers. A ball hit over the fence was worth two points. A ball off the wall or on the warning track earned two points.
Spargo (19 points) and Mater Dei’s Gigi Flores (13 points) advanced to the final round. Sparago, who will play at Middle Tennessee State, won the final round with nine points to Flores’ six.