Thirty-five games into the season, the Norwalk softball team has taken on one of the state’s toughest schedules and emerged with a 27-8 overall record. They finished 18-3 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, clinching at least a share of the program’s first league championship since 2013.

And with just a few days left in the regular season, the Class 4A fifth-ranked Warriors are certainly not resting on their laurels. On Monday night, Norwalk will host Class 5A top-ranked Ankeny Centennial (30-5), with varsity action set to start at 7:15 p.m. Two nights later, the Warriors’ final tune up for postseason play is a varsity doubleheader at 5A 2nd-ranked Waukee Northwest (27-9) starting at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday.

By the time Thursday rolls around, Norwalk will have played a combined 15 games against teams ranked in the top 10 of the state’s largest two classes. Head coach Beau Livingston believes that the grind of facing so many quality opponents throughout the season will have his team prepared for a second straight run toward the state tournament in Fort Dodge.

“It really feels like we’ve played in about 10 state tournament games here recently. Our schedule is loaded,” Livingston said. “It kind of really feels like we’re in this spot nightly where they’re high pressure-packed games… We want to challenge our girls each and every night.”

Norwalk will have a first round bye in the Class 4A regional tournament before hosting Mount Pleasant or Keokuk in a Region 6 semifinal game on Saturday, July 8, at 7:00 p.m.