EAST LANSING – Taylor Capozzo had a couple of key roles on the Armada softball team this year.

One was at the plate, where her 14 home runs led an explosive offense.

The other was in the field. On a team with only two seniors, her leadership kept the Tigers focused on the way to the school’s first MHSAA Finals softball championship.

“My job is to lead the best I can,” said Capozzo, whose two-run homer in the first inning Saturday proved to be the only runs Armada needed in a 9-1 victory over Farmington Hills Mercy in the Division 2 championship game.

The title capped a magical season for the Tigers, who got off to a shaky start.

“We had seven errors against Richmond early (in the season),” Armada coach Rob Gilpin said. “We said if we can clean up in the field, we can be pretty good.”

That’s not the only thing Gilpin saw in his team.

“I told Taylor before (Saturday’s) game that I dreamed she hit a home run,” Gilpin said.

Her clout helped relax the Tigers (37-8), who scored in every inning but the seventh. 

Charlotte Stang homered and drove in three runs for Armada, which also took advantage of five Mercy errors in the field.

Meanwhile, freshman lefty pitcher Megan Cox was dominant, striking out 13 and allowing just four hits and one unearned run two days after she shut out top-ranked Stevensville Lakeshore in the Semifinal to send her team to the weekend. 

In addition, the Tigers had a good-luck charm courtesy of fifth-grader Cody Ballard. He gave Gilpin a courage coin given to him during his treatment for leukemia. 

“I’ve had it in my pocket since school ended," Gilpin said. "I can’t wait to call his mother.”

Mercy coach Alec Lesko, whose team had a similar unexpected tournament run, had no regrets. The Marlins went 6-1 during the tournament to push past .500 and finished 21-18.

“We kept getting better,” Lesko said. “You could see the progress at the end. It was a blessing to coach with my daughter and my grandchildren. I have a big family, and they were all here today.” 

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS (Top) Armada players celebrate their Division 2 championship Saturday at Secchia Stadium. (Middle) Tigers shortstop Helena Fettue applies a tag on Mercy’s Sophia Chaput (28) as she slides into second base.