Madison jumps on Norwalk for district title

WILLARD — Not this time. The Norwalk softball team has forged an identity for rallying late in games, and even after slow starts to recent seasons. But just over 17 hours after a thrilling comeback win over Tiffin Columbian, the Truckers were facing a dominant Mansfield Madison program in a Division III district championship game at Willard. And the Rams proved unrelenting, scoring 10 runs over the first three innings in Saturday's game. But on this day, one run was enough for Madison freshman pitcher Caliyah Clapper. She threw five nearly perfect innings, ending Norwalk's season, 10-0, in five innings. The Rams have won six district championships, while this was the first-ever title game appearance for Norwalk. The only baserunner for the Truckers (13-12) came when Clapper hit Lilly Farmer in the top of the fifth inning. She struck out nine — including the final two batters of the game after hitting Farmer — with no walks on just 68 pitches. "They definitely were able to play with confidence by taking the lead right away," Norwalk head coach Julie Schmidt said. "We knew we had to play a clean game coming in against a team like that, but we weren't able to execute. "But ultimately, whether it was 10-0 or 1-0, we can't win if we're not putting the ball in play," she added. "That's a big piece of it, obviously. But we'll grow and be better from it and come back stronger next year by facing them today." The Rams' Izzy Wamsley led off with a single, stole second, and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. She then scored on a passed ball, and just 10 pitches into the bottom of the first, Madison (20-6) had grabbed the lead. Then came an RBI double by Campbell Kiser, and a ground ball that was misplayed allowed two more runs to score for a 4-0 lead after one. Wamsley had an RBI double in the second, then she scored on another passed ball before Clapper singled in another run for a 7-0 lead. Two more runs were scored in the bottom of the third on an error and a ground out, then Wamsley gave the Rams the 10-0 lead on an RBI triple. Meanwhile, Norwalk also only had three fly ball outs against Clapper. "She was consistent and had has speed, and it felt like she was always working ahead in the count," Schmidt said of Clapper. "Whenever you can do that and paint the corners, which she is able to do, that is a great recipe for success. "She was able to put that together consistently today and has for them this season." Norwalk had trailed 6-0 in the second inning against Tiffin Columbian in the district semifinal game on Friday. The Truckers then stormed back to tie the game and won it in the bottom of the seventh on a base hit by Reagan Mooney, which scored Maddie Gamble. Norwalk started 0-2 in 2023 and finished 12-12. Last season, the Truckers were 0-3 and finished 15-9 with the program's first-ever league championship. This spring, Norwalk was 0-6 and finished 13-12 with the program's first-ever district win. "The program in general is moving in a great direction with a first last year and a first this year," Schmidt said. "We've been able to set the momentum up, but it's all a credit to the work the girls have put in. They put in a lot of offseason work to be great, and they are coachable during the season." Norwalk loses standouts Mya Prochnow and Farmer, along with Virginia Metcalf, to graduation. Schmidt said the past two years will need to set up the future. "Our seniors were able to help set the stage for the next wave of players coming in to continue that trend of firsts," she said. "We want to continue down the road of first-time accomplishments. But it starts with the momentum that the last couple of years has built." Norwalk 000 00 — 0 0 3Madison 433 0x — 10 9 0WP: Clapper; LP: Lesch2B: (M) Wamsley, Kiser; 3B: (M) Wamsley