The Eagles (25-3), who were held to just two runs in their 2-1 semifinal victory over Pipestone, broke open the game with seven runs in the third inning. They added a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 10-0 lead. NYA scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t muster a sustained attack against Taylor.

“She’s been lights-out all week,” Norwood Young America coach Joe Kley said. “She pitched a heckuva tournament. We knew coming she was going to be good. Unfortunately, we didn’t square too many balls up today. Sometimes, that happens.”

Macken said her team’s performance in the tournament was a direct result of playing a tough schedule.

“We challenged ourselves all year, playing 3A and 4A teams,” she said. “I think it really prepared us playing teams out of our class.”

JIM PAULSEN