There was certainly a pattern to the Norwalk softball team’s regional tournament success in the past week. The staples were much the same as all season: excellent pitching, flawless defense and an explosive offense.

In last Saturday’s 7-0 semifinal win over Ballard, the Class 4A third-ranked Warriors hit two triples, a home run and two singles in a six-run second inning. They added just two hits the rest of the game, one of them being a solo homer by Bailey Birmingham. In Tuesday’s regional final against Pella, the Warriors rode Lauren Black’s first-inning grand slam and a combined no-hitter by Carly Brewer and Olivia Dougherty to a 4-0 win over Pella. They added just three singles after the first-inning outburst.

In looking ahead to his team’s third consecutive state tournament appearance, Norwalk coach Beau Livingston couldn’t help but nit pick a little in talking about the Warriors’ offensive success.

Livingston cited too many first-pitch outs and weak ground balls against Pella, and says the Warriors must put together more consistent at-bats and scoring output next week in Fort Dodge.

“I think sometimes, with our pitchers, we just get a little complacent,” he said. “We feel like four (runs) is enough, which tonight it was, but next week it might not be, so we’ve got to continue to pound away those at-bats… It’s something to work on, something to improve on. We’ve got to get better from now until Monday.”

Norwalk is the third seed in the Class 4A State Softball Tournament. They will take on North Scott at 3:00 p.m. on Monday at the Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge.