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Left-right: Kady Vandemark, Mei Grant, Morgan Weeks. (Photo contributed)

Great role models and leaders. Those are just a few of the words first-year Norwalk coach Beau Livingston uses to describe the trio of seniors on the 2022 Warrior softball team.

Morgan Weeks, Kady Vandemark and Mei Grant all played their own role on this year’s Norwalk squad, which finished with a 30-8 overall record and placed second in the Little Hawkeye Conference. The Warriors also made their first state tournament appearance since 2014 this week, falling to Carlisle 8-4 in the first round before ending the season with a 5-0 consolation game win over Burlington.

Weeks, Vandemark and Grant all contributed at least a hit or run-batted-in vs. Burlington and the seniors played on Norwalk teams that compiled 90 wins during the last four years.

Livingston tells KNIA Sports that he was happy the team was able to honor the seniors with a victory in their final game. He adds that he is proud of them for sticking with the program through last year’s coaching change.

“It’s hard to be a senior in a summer sport when there’s change,” Livingston said. “I think it can go either way, and it’s a credit to those three for being accepting of me, for trusting in what we said we were going to do, and just being great role models and leaders.

“We were young, and just the relationships that they formed with our freshmen and sophomores was really incredible to see and it’s a credit to them, their families and just the type of people they are.”

Weeks, the Warrior center fielder, started 37 games and batted .282 with two doubles, one home run, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored. She added eight stolen bases and finished with 34 putouts and no errors.

Vandemark emerged as the team’s designated hitter during the second half of the season and batted .379 with two homers, one double, a triple and 18 RBI in just 66 at-bats. She drew 12 walks, had a .488 on-base percentage and also pitched 10 innings with a 1-0 record.

Grant was the team’s backup catcher and one of the most vocal supporters in the dugout. She made the very most of her varsity opportunities, batting .625 with 10 hits in 16 at-bats and four RBI.