For the first time all summer, the Norwalk Warrior softball team finds themselves in a bit of a funk as they near the end of regular season play.

The Class 4A third-ranked Warriors still boast a quality record of 26-7 overall, with six of their seven defeats coming against top-five ranked teams in Class 5A and 4A. Coach Beau Livingston’s squad is just 5-5 in their last 10 contests, however, following a pair of losses to 5A fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest on Wednesday night.

Game one of the doubleheader was scoreless until the Wolves scored five runs in the last two innings to win 5-0. Game two was tied 2-2 after seven when Northwest plated five in the eighth to win 7-2. Livingston tells KNIA Sports that the Warriors didn’t move runners well or get the big hit when they had opportunities against Northwest. He adds that he did not have his team ready to compete for seven innings in both games, which is uncharacteristic of Norwalk’s veteran squad. Livingston is hopeful that the Warriors will bounce back strong following the long holiday weekend.

“We’ve got to make a decision when we come back who we’re going to be, because we’re running out of opportunities,” he said. “The next time we get these opportunities and we play like that, then our season is over. So we’ve got some choices to make and some decisions to make and decide how we want to end this thing. Obviously we’re a really talented team. Our abilities and potential are high, but you’ve still got to show up and play well, and that starts with me.”

Thanks to a rained out doubleheader on Tuesday and a break in the schedule, Norwalk has played just two games since June 28, which isn’t conducive to staying sharp. The Warriors close out the regular season at Council Bluffs Lewis Central on Monday night, then have another four-day gap before hosting a Class 4A regional semifinal on Saturday night against Newton or Ballard.