The Norwalk softball team erupted for six runs in the second inning and defeated Ballard 7-0 in Saturday night’s Class 4A, Region 6 semifinal heard live on the KNIA3 stream.
Warrior pitchers Carly Brewer and Olivia Dougherty combined on a two-hit shutout, the defense turned in a pair of brilliant double plays and all seven runs came home on triples and homers. The third-ranked Warriors improved to 28-7 overall while the Bombers finished their season at 12-20.
Norwalk coach Beau Livingston tells KNIA-KRLS Sports that he was proud of his team’s performance as the Warriors excelled in all facets of the game. “That’s who we are,” he said, “and it was good to see this team tonight just play the way that we play, (which is) pitch really well, play great defense, and then hit the ball out of the yard and move runners and do some things, and that’s really what got the rally started. We just simply executed.”
With one out in the bottom of the second, Addi Downe ignited Norwalk’s six-run outburst with a single and Jada Livingston put down a perfect sacrifice bunt that was compounded by a Ballard throwing error. Bailey Birmingham drove a two-run triple to right-center field and Nyah Hulbert followed with an RBI triple to left center, making it 3-0. Lauren Black capped the inning with her 10th home run of the season, a three-run shot over the left field fence.
The Warriors struck out nine times against Ballard pitcher Brooklyn Baumgardner and did not score again until Birmingham crushed her eighth home run of the year in the sixth inning. Birmingham, Hulbert and Brewer had two hits each on the night.
Brewer pitched four innings of two-hit ball and Dougherty was dominant in three innings of relief, striking out nine of the 10 batters she faced. Birmingham started a smooth double play in the top of the third, fielding a ground ball near second base, stepping on the bag and firing an accurate throw to first. One inning later, center fielder Maddie Gullion made a great running catch on Jada Lande’s drive to the gap and doubled off a runner on second.
Norwalk will host Pella in a 4A regional final on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., seeking a third consecutive trip to the state tournament in Fort Dodge.