Norwalk will rely on defense, five seniors

NORWALK — Julie Schmidt knows it may sound like a broken record. But if her Norwalk High School softball team is going to have a successful season, it's not the offense she is concerned about. "Defense, defense, defense," Schmidt said. "If we can play clean softball, we have the potential to have a great, successful season." The Truckers (0-6) are a team that will be split between five seniors, but then four freshmen and a sophomore this season. "There will be a learning curve as everyone adapts to the speed of the game at the varsity level after our five seniors," Schmidt said. Norwalk bottomed out to a 1-18 record in 2018, but had improved to an 8-16 record in 2019 that included a Division II sectional tournament win. However, the 2020 season never happened thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, which stunted any on-field progress for a year. "Any time you miss a full season of play, there's going to be an impact," Schmidt said. "It's overall missed growth, missed experience, and missed opportunities for the players who were primed to have standout seasons last year. That being said, a lot of these girls have been working hard all year to get ready for this spring's season. "Their effort and energy is high, and I think there was definitely an extra anticipation going into opening day." The typical lineup for the Truckers will likely feature senior Cossondra Shinksi in the pitcher's circle, with classmate Meadow Muratori catching for her. Hayleigh Mills is at first base, with Callie Helton playing second base when Shinksi pitches, and sliding over to right when the senior is in the field. Senior Sophia Bores is at shortstop, and senior Alex Nolan will play third. Freshman Haley Gockstetter will play left field and is the team's No. 2 pitcher behind Shinski, while sophomore Morgan Leber is in centerfield and freshmen Emily Skeel and McKenna Ames will play right and left field, respectively. Ames will also play some third base as well for the Truckers. "Our bats have the potential to be destructive this year," Schmidt said. "We have a top-to-bottom lineup of hard-hitting ladies." Through four games this spring, the Truckers are looking to eliminate the "big inning" by their opponents. Norwalk held a 1-0 lead entering the sixth inning of its season opener vs. Monroeville on March 27, but the Eagles scored four runs in the frame in the 6-3 victory. The Truckers and Eagles were tied at 2-2 through three innings of the second game of the doubleheader, only to see Monroeville put up an eight-run fourth and a seven-run sixth. In the SBC Lake Division opener on March 31, Norwalk trailed 6-4 entering the bottom of the fifth inning at Tiffin Columbian. But then the Tornadoes put up nine runs over the next two winnings. It's why Schmidt is preaching defense to her team, as those three losses featured seven unearned runs. The coach has full confidence in her two pitchers. "Cossondra brings a fierce, level head to the circle," Schmidt said. "She's a workhorse who isn't afraid to push through pain and has a never-quit attitude. Haley is one of our freshman pitchers who we're excited to work into rotation. She brings great energy and we feel like she has a bright future in our program." In the meantime, Schmidt believes her lineup, notably the seniors, will put the ball in play with consistency. "We will rely on our seniors to be the catalyst offensively," she said. "All of them have been seeing the ball well and have power just waiting to explode." Norwalk 2021 schedule March 27: vs. Monroeville (Lost, 6-3) March 27: vs. Monroeville (Lost, 17-3) March 30: at Crestview (Lost, 10-0) March 31: at Tiffin Columbian (Lost, 15-4) April 3: vs. Lexington (Lost, 18-3) April 3: vs. Lexington (Lost, 22-0) April 5: vs. Clyde, 4:45 p.m. April 7: vs. Perkins, 4:45 p.m. April 8: vs. Port Clinton, 4:45 p.m. April 9: at Willard, 4:45 p.m. April 10: vs. W. Reserve, 11 a.m. April 12: vs. Sandusky, 4:45 p.m. April 14: at Vermilion, 4:45 p.m. April 15: vs. South Central, 4:45 p.m. April 16: at Bellevue, 4:45 p.m. April 19: vs. Tiffin Columbian, 4:45 p.m. April 21: at Clyde, 4:45 p.m. April 26: at Perkins, 4:45 p.m. April 30: at Sandusky, 4:45 p.m. May 1: vs. Edison (DH), 11 a.m. May 3: vs. Vermilion, 4:45 p.m. May 5: vs. Bellevue, 4:45 p.m. May 7: at Shelby, 5 p.m. May 8: at Ashland (DH), 11 a.m.