The Royals were oh-for-2025, losing every game in a lackluster season.

Thursday’s 8-1 victory over Northridge was win No. 2 in the current campaign and is already one more Region 5 conquest than a year ago. (Roy’s doubleheader split Monday with Bonneville came in nonregion contests.)

“Last year was a little rough. This year, we prioritized commitment and hard work. The kids came three nights a week in January and wanted it,” Roy coach Stephanie Mark said. “They bought into what we were doing and did a ton of team building. From the outset, these girls said they wanted to build a sisterhood and that has characterized this team every day.”

With seven freshmen and four sophomores on this year’s roster, the Royals don’t have 2025 thrown in their face because most weren’t part of it.

“This group of girls get along so well together; they care about each other so much. They want a good experience and that comes from them getting along and doing the things we ask them to do,” Mark said.

Roy (2-2, 1-0 Region 5) had cobbled together a 3-1 lead after four innings on Thursday, then broke the game open with a four-run fifth.

Sophomore catcher Kyra Haarala walked, freshman shortstop Izabella Patillo doubled her to third, and everyone scored on a three-run home run by senior centerfielder Lorelai Sherrod, making it 6-1.

That was more than enough run support for freshman pitcher Haven Carreola, who overcame a slight case of the jitters by concentrating on the beautiful azure sky on a sun-baked afternoon.

“The color blue calms me down, so I look up and it settles my nerves. I was a bit nervous, but I felt ready. I was having a lot of fun today,” Carreola said. “It was exciting that we were holding the lead and winning and competing to our fullest potential.”

Carreola got the complete-game victory, scattering 10 hits while striking out six and walking none.

Mark heaped praise on her inexperienced, green starting pitcher.

“She is one of a kind. She is so serious, yet so loose at the same time. She works hard; she’s focused, intense — that defines her and the team this year. They’re hungry,” Mark said. Haven’s such a good kid and wants the ball on the mound.”

Sherrod added a sacrifice fly and finished with four RBIs for the Royals, and Isabel Cline had a hit and two runs batted in.

After a win in its opening game, Northridge (1-1, 0-1) did little right Thursday, often extending innings by making miscues in the field, then struggling against Carreola at the dish.

“It’s hard to win when you have to get four or five outs per inning; we had a lot of errors. I don’t think we gave up, we were just frustrated,” Northridge coach Casey Kap said. “(Carreola) would quick pitch as soon as we stepped in; she was ready to throw and we didn’t get set.”

Third baseman Kiersten Carbone and first baseman Kaylee Shirreffs had two hits each for the Knights.

There is a lot of softball to go, but for now, the Royals like where they’re at.

“I’m so proud of them; it’s so easy for girls to fall into the drama and get distracted, but this group is focused on one goal, and that’s to be successful,” Mark said. “They are the reason this has turned around. We gave them the opportunity, but they have taken it and run with it.”