This… was Warrior Softball.

Just one day removed from a frustrating state semifinal loss to North Scott, the Norwalk softball team finished their season on a high note Thursday night, defeating Fort Dodge 5-0 in the Class 4A third-place final at Rogers Sports Complex. The game was carried live on 94.3 KNIA.

Warrior senior Zadie Wadle pitched a three-hit shutout over 6 ⅔ innings, retiring the final 15 batters she faced before Olivia Dougherty recorded the final out. Wadle’s two-run double into the left field corner broke a scoreless tie in the fourth and Maddie Gullion’s three-RBI home run to dead center made it 5-0 in the fifth.

Norwalk finishes 33-10 overall and has won 63 games in Coach Beau Livingston’s first two years at the helm, ending both seasons at state. In a touching moment with one out to go, Livingston called time to let the team’s only two seniors – Wadle and Kaylee Cary – be recognized. Wadle and Cary shared hugs, and a few tears, with their teammates, then exited the field to a standing ovation.

“It’s more than softball,” Livingston said. “We spend a ton of time together, and the girls really become like daughters, become like family, and I just thought that they deserved that moment to be recognized by everybody here in the stadium… What a way to go out.”

Gullion, who was named to the Class 4A All-Tournament Team following Winterset’s championship game win over North Scott, finished the night 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored and three RBI. She went 6-for-11 with three extra-base hits at state. Nyah Hulbert also had a two-hit game on Thursday and scored a run.

Fort Dodge finished 32-11 on the season. The Dodgers had capped the previous three years by playing in the Class 5A championship game.