The Norwalk softball team seeks a third consecutive trip to the state tournament tonight, hosting conference rival Pella in the Class 4A, Region 6 championship game at 7:00 p.m. The third-ranked Warriors enter the contest with a 28-7 record following Saturday’s 7-0 semifinal win over Ballard. The Dutch, who knocked off No. 11 Bondurant-Farrar 3-2 in the semis, have won five straight games to improve to 22-11.

Norwalk dominated the regular-season series with Pella, winning all three meetings by the run rule: 14-0, 11-1 and 10-0. Warrior coach Beau Livingston expects a much more competitive game tonight. Livingston tells KNIA-KRLS Sports that Norwalk has yet to see Pella drop ball pitcher Emma Eekhoff at her best this season, and he calls Drake recruit Ava Curry a fantastic hitter.

“We’ll have to remind our girls that Pella’s got college players [on their team] as well,” Livingston said. “We’ll have to play well, there’s no doubt about it. It’ll be a fun Little Hawkeye matchup. They’ll bring a lot of people and hopefully we can get the community out to support the girls, and it will be a fun night.”

Livingston adds that his veteran-laden squad is excited for the pursuit of a third straight ticket to state. The Warriors finished in the top six of the 4A field in 2022 and placed third last season.

“Really, this senior class and junior class (have) an opportunity to cement their legacy as probably the best classes that Norwalk has ever seen in the world of softball,” he said. “Three (straight) trips to Fort Dodge would be a special thing for this group.”

Tonight’s game can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS and the KNIA3 stream via kniakrls.com. Pregame coverage on KNIA3 will begin at approximately 6:45.