PORTAGE | The Eastern Illinois Cruisers picked the right time to jell after recent struggles and injuries had them cut down to just nine players at one point.

The Cruisers, a 16U softball team based out of Champaign, dominated the Monticello Eclipse 14-0 in four innings, capturing the National Softball Association 16-and-under "B" Northern World Series Championship at Imagination Glen in Portage.

With the title, the Cruisers completed a perfect run through the tournament.

"These girls have come a long way this year and we've struggled in other tournaments," Cruisers coach Terry Bowen said. "They just happened to put it together at the right time. We have three girls that can still play 14-and-under, so it's a great accomplishment for all of them."

The Cruisers wasted no time jumping all over Eclipse pitcher Delaney Bruce, plating two runs in the first inning on a two-run single from Marcy Crawford.

The Cruisers would go on to score two more second-inning runs and broke the game wide open in the top of the fourth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run frame.

While the bats were certainly working for the Cruisers, pitcher Brandi Coy's performance on the mound deserved equal merit. Coy pitched four innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five.

The Eclipse didn't threaten until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Alyssa Haselby and Mallory Cummings knocked singles up the middle.

"I'm happy about this win, it was a good team effort," Coy said. "I couldn't have performed the way I did without my defense (behind me). It was really important for us to step up like we did."

YOUTH SOFTBALL

NSA World Series

16-and-under championship game

Eastern Illinois Cruisers 14, Monticello Eclipse 0, 4 innings

Cruisers pitcher Brandi Coy gave up just three hits.

More inside

Complete coverage from Friday's NSA World Series championship games is on PAGE C8.