With one swing of the bat, the Norwalk softball team was well on their way to another state tournament appearance.

Lauren Black’s first-inning grand slam accounted for all of the offense while Carly Brewer and Olivia Dougherty threw a combined no-hitter on Tuesday night as the Warriors topped Pella 4-0 in a Class 4A regional final in Norwalk. The game was heard live on 92.1 KRLS and the KNIA3 stream.

The third-ranked Warriors improved to 29-7 and punched their third consecutive ticket to the State Softball Tournament in Fort Dodge. They will face North Scott in a 4A quarterfinal on Monday, July 22, at the Rogers Sports Complex. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.

Norwalk coach Beau Livingston was a bit emotional after the victory as he spoke about a six-player senior class that includes his daughter Jada. “I just feel really fortunate,” he said. “Not many people get to spend this much time with their kid. Not only the success that we’ve had, but to be able to do it with her, it will be an emotional week for sure… It’s just a special group that I am so proud of. I just want to make sure that this week is about them.”

Nyah Hulbert led off Norwalk’s first inning with a single, Jaylynn Brandt drew a walk and Brewer reached on a fielder’s choice. Black then powered a changeup from Pella ace Emma Eekhoff over the left field fence for her 11th home run of the season and a 4-0 lead. The Warriors added just three base runners the rest of the game as Livingston, Hulbert and Black each hit a single.

Brewer was dominant in the circle, striking out 10 and issuing two walks in six hitless innings. The Dutch, who finished 22-12, loaded the bases on three walks in the sixth, but Dougherty escaped the jam with her third strikeout of the inning. Following a leadoff walk in the seventh, Brewer re-entered the game at pitcher and recorded the final three outs to cap Norwalk’s fourth win of the season over Pella.