The Norwalk boys soccer season came to an end on Friday morning with a hard-fought 2-1 loss to Des Moines Hoover in the state semifinals. The Norwalk baseball and softball squads played on Friday night and earned lopsided conference wins at Newton.

Boys Soccer falls to Hoover

One year after Norwalk knocked off Hoover 1-0 in the Class 3A state soccer tournament, the top-seeded Huskies avenged the Warriors with a 2-1 decision in the 3A semifinals at Drake Stadium. The game was heard live on 94.3 KNIA and KNIA3.

Junior Javier Flores had both goals for Hoover, scoring off a free kick with 10:08 left in the first half and a short-range missile off the hands of goalie Jacoby Robbins with 20:14 remaining in the match.

The Warriors made it close with 14:07 to go when senior Jace Davis tapped in a well-placed free kick assist by Caden Endres. They were unable to force a tie down the stretch, however, and finished the day with just two shots on goal. Davis nearly scored earlier in the second half, but his header off a corner kick carried just over the crossbar.

Des Moines Hoover, now 18-2, advances to today’s 3A championship game against Dallas Center-Grimes at Mediacom Stadium. Norwalk finishes the season 12-9 overall and graduates 13 valuable seniors off the roster.

Softball wins 13-1

Lauren Black’s monster night at the plate carried the Class 4A top-ranked Norwalk softball team past Newton 13-1 in Little Hawkeye Conference action. The Warriors put together a three-run first inning, a three-run fourth and a five-run seventh. Black was in the middle of it all, blasting three home runs and racking up nine RBI to lead her team’s 14-hit attack.

Nyah Hulbert added a solo homer for the Warriors and fellow outfielders Jaylynn Brandt and Maddie Gullion both hit a pair of singles. Olivia Dougherty pitched a complete game three-hitter, striking out 10 Cardinals and walking three.

Norwalk improved to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the LHC, and will return to action Monday for a 5:30 varsity doubleheader at 4A 14th-ranked Indianola.

Baseball wins 10-1

The Norwalk baseball team is also 3-0 in the Little Hawkeye following Friday’s 10-1 victory at Newton. The Warriors started fast with a six-run first inning and racked up 16 hits as every starter hit safely at least once. They also played their first error-free game of the season, improving to 6-4 overall.

Aidan Harder led the offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. CJ Davis, Payton Nichols, Dawson King and Mason Vogel all had two-hit games and Josh Pinns doubled and scored three runs. Davis was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits in six scoreless innings. He struck out eight and walked five. The Warriors play a varsity doubleheader at Indianola on Monday.