The road to the state tournament begins later this week for Norwalk baseball and softball as both squads close out the regular season Tuesday night and open postseason play on the weekend.

The Warrior baseball team takes an 18-17 record into Tuesday’s home game vs. ADM and is the number four seed out of six teams in Class 4A, Substate 8. Norwalk will travel to Des Moines Roosevelt on Friday, July 8, for a first round matchup against the 25-12 Roughriders at 5:00 p.m. The two teams split a doubleheader on May 26, with Norwalk winning 4-2 and losing 1-0.

Friday’s winner will then face either second-seeded West Des Moines Valley or No. 5 seed Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln on Monday, July 11 (7:00 p.m.) at a site to be determined. Waukee Northwest is the top seed in Substate 8 and will host Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson in the first round. The substate final is set for Wednesday, July 13.

The fourth-ranked Warrior softball team, meanwhile, is the No. 1 seed in Class 4A, Region 6 and takes a 27-7 record into Tuesday’s regular season finale at fifth-ranked Carlisle. Norwalk will have a first round bye Thursday before hosting either Cedar Rapids Xavier or Newton Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. The Warriors won all three of their Little Hawkeye Conference games vs. Newton this season, posting shutouts of 8-0, 2-0 and 3-0. Xavier hails from the always competitive Mississippi Valley Conference.

The opposite half of the Region 6 bracket features 14th-ranked Benton Community, Charles City and Waterloo East. The regional final will be played Tuesday, July 12, at the home field of the highest remaining ranked team.

Norwalk will be seeking its seventh state baseball tourney appearance, having won titles in three of the previous six trips in 1982, 2009 and 2020. The Warrior softball team is aiming for its 12th state tournament appearance and the first in eight years. They won their only state championship back in 2005.