ABERDEEN — The Warriors are walking out of Aberdeen as state champions.

Top-seeded Castlewood ran away from No. 2 McCook Central/Montrose, 9-2, capturing its second Class B state softball championship in the past four seasons.

“We set out at the beginning of the year that this is what the goal was and to accomplish a goal, you got to have a lot of belief in yourself and belief in one another to do that,” said Castlewood head coach Craig Horn. “This team grew, they matured this year. Those ladies where, in the past may have struggled to get through those tougher moments, they had each other’s backs.”

The Castlewood championship was highlighted by a six-run third inning. Tied at 1-1, the Warriors pounded out four doubles and a triple to score six runs and open the game open for starting pitcher Claire Horn to settle in on the mound.

“We felt like we had an advantage with the bats,” said Craig Horn. “We knew they had good bats but we had Claire. Zaidee (Huls) was throwing a lot of curveballs for them and we felt like we could catch up to that speed so it took maybe some jitters there in those couple innings and then they started connecting like they can.”

Kayla Goens scored another Castlewood run on a groundout in the fourth inning which was replicated by MCM in the fifth frame on a fielder’s choice. Sophia Kudrna scored older sister Cydni on a groundout to push the lead back to seven heading into the last half inning.

After a one-out error, Claire Horn forced back-to-back fly outs to secure the championship for Castlewood.

“It feels good,” Claire Horn said. “We’ve done it once but it’s been awhile. We’ve been working to get back here and finally did it. It felt good.”

Claire tossed all seven innings for the Warriors, allowing two runs on three hits and seven walks, striking out nine, but found herself in multiple jams with MCM runners in scoring position throughout the title game.

But the veteran experience from Claire, who’s pitched at the varsity level since she was in the seventh grade, and the defense behind her was able to limit numerous MCM runs from scoring.

“There’s been a couple games where they didn’t go that way this year, and even two state tournaments ago in the state title game didn’t go that way,” Craig Horn said of his daughter, Claire. “She’s growing, she’s a sophomore now and it’s fourth year doing this. Claire is a battler, she’s tough-minded and it’s fun to see.”

“I was overheating, it was bad,” Claire said. “I couldn’t really pitch around the strike zone because I was struggling but I had faith in my field. If they hit, they would get me.”

The Warrior offense was paced by a 4-for-4 day from Cydni Kudrna, including a double, triple, and an RBI. Lucy Jacobsen and Sophia Kudrna each had two hits and an RBI, Kayla Goens and Natalie Akin each drove in two runs on one hit while Horn added an RBI-double.

For MCM, Huls allowed nine runs on 13 hits in six innings, striking out two in the loss.

Ella DeKnikker had an RBI while Mya Morrison, Ashtyn DeKnikker and Josalyn Traupel each had a hit in the loss.

Castlewood, which has played in the Class B title game in three of the first four seasons of high school sanctioned softball, now brings home a second title.

Craig Horn says the biggest part of the Warriors success on the diamond has been years of culture-building within the program. And for a team with just three seniors, Castlewood brings back plenty of firepower for a potential repeat.

“The other thing we really focused on this year was building the right culture and the right team,” Craig said. “It was a great program-building year for this group and I couldn’t be more proud. It was neat to see a team, collectively, come together.

“We’re going to miss those three seniors,” Craig Horn said of Cassidy Kirwan, Goens and Akin. “I can’t express the gratitude that I have for those three. We’ve had some great ones come before them and they helped build to get us to this level so hats off to even them back 2-3 years ago. Next year is going to be a whole nother year and we’ll look to get back here again.”