The Norwalk boys soccer team opens Class 3A state tournament play this morning with a quarterfinal match against Marion at the James W. Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines. The game will start at 10:10 a.m. and can be heard live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3). Pregame coverage begins at approximately 9:55.
Last year’s 3A state runner-up, the sixth-ranked Warriors enter state with an 11-8 record and are the No. 4 seed in the eight-team bracket. The eighth-ranked Wolves, who bowed out in the semifinal round a year ago, are 14-4 overall and seeded fifth.
Marion boasts some impressive numbers on the year, having scored 65 total goals while allowing only six. The Wolves have shut out 12 of their 18 opponents. Norwalk, which has outscored the opposition 37-23 with eight shutouts, has faced an extremely challenging schedule. Neither squad has allowed a goal during postseason play.
Today’s winner advances to the 3A semifinals and will face top-seeded Des Moines Hoover (16-2) or Indianola (6-13) on Friday morning at Drake Stadium. The rest of the 3A field includes Cedar Rapids Xavier, Cedar Rapids Washington, Dallas Center-Grimes and Storm Lake.
Baseball and softball teams post wins
The Norwalk baseball team scored a 4-2 home win over Ballard on Tuesday night while the Class 4A 2nd-ranked Norwalk softball team won 2-0 at 10th-ranked ADM.
The Warrior baseball team’s third straight victory improved their non-conference record to 3-3. Cole Wardlow pitched six innings for the win, striking out seven and issuing just one walk. Eli Benschoter worked a scoreless seventh for the save. Leading 2-1, Norwalk plated two key runs in the fourth when Mason Vogel doubled and Colton Moore and Briley Purcell hit RBI singles.
The Warrior softball team improved to 4-0 with their shutout win at ADM. Carly Brewer got the win, allowing five hits but no walks in 5 ⅓ scoreless frames. Olivia Dougherty recorded the final five outs for the save, working around a pair of walks. Offensively, Norwalk scored single runs in the second and third innings, getting a sacrifice fly from Addi Downe and an RBI double by Grace Dehmer. Jaylynn Brandt finished 2-for-3 with a double and scored a run. Brewer went 2-for-2 with a walk.
Both Norwalk teams open Little Hawkeye Conference play tonight, hosting Oskaloosa for varsity doubleheaders at 5:30.