Senior Slugger Capozzo, Armada Put Powerful Finish on Historic Championship Run
By
Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2026
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 Girvin said. “We said if we can clean up in the field, we can be pretty good.”
That’s not the only thing Girvin saw in his team.
“I told Taylor before (Saturday’s) game that I dreamed she hit a home run,” Girvin 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 Girvin a courage coin given to him during his treatment for leukemia.
“I’ve had it in my pocket since school ended," Girvin 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.”
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.
Moment: USA Win Unforgettable as 1-2-3
May 15, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Unionville-Sebewaing was two runs ahead and three outs away from clinching last season’s Division 4 championship.
But with runners on first and second base, Kalamazoo Christian was still very much in pursuit of a comeback.
And then, the game was over.
In an instant, USA pitcher Brynn Polega took a line drive off her arm. The ball landed with shortstop Rylee Zimmer, who stepped on second base and then threw to first, both behind runners, to finish a triple play and a 3-1 victory.
“It hit me right in the elbow, and I just turned around and I said, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Polega said that day. “I said please get this, and I saw (Zimmerman) step on second. The runner on first was halfway to second, and I said that’s it.’’
“Chaos. I’ve never seen an ending like that,’’ added Patriots coach Isaiah Gainforth. “Whether in the Major Leagues, college baseball. I played a lot of different things, and I’ve never seen anything transpire the way that last inning did. I’m just glad we’re on the winning end of it.’’
Polega, a sophomore, struck out 15 batters and also drove in the go-ahead run during the third inning.
Click for coverage from Second Half and see below for the game-ending play from the NFHS Network.