Truckers seek better finish in 2026

NORWALK — Finish the race. In 2025, the Norwalk baseball team was 11-3 overall and 6-1 and in first place in the SBC Lake Division past the halfway point of the season. But the Truckers closed out their year by falling in seven of their last eight games to finish 12-10 overall and 6-4 in the league. Included in that stretch was a tough 2-1 loss at Bellevue that saw the Redmen score their two runs on a dropped third strike and two throwing errors. That win would have kept Norwalk in first place with one league game remaining. But instead, it was part of the season-ending skid that saw the Truckers get outscored 73-19, an average score of 9-2. Now, in the final season of the SBC Lake, the Truckers are looking to compete in what is expected to be another challenging slate of games. "These guys have been working really hard, and a lot of people don't see just how much they do every day," fourth-year head coach Jason Higgins said. "They've earned what they can do now on the field. We want to make sure these guys get stronger and faster every day. "They've learned baseball breakdown plays, and we talk about the game of baseball more now that some of those skills have been developed." Norwalk, which opened the season on March 30 against Fremont Ross, has six players back with 30-plus at-bats from last season's lineup. The Truckers also bring back their top three starting pitchers from last season. Sophomore Noah Helton was 4-1 with a 2.65 earned run average last season. He allowed 21 hits with 25 strikeouts and 17 walks. Senior Wesley Shupe (4-4, 2.07) allowed 26 hits with 47 strikeouts and 23 walks in 44 innings, while senior Carter Harp (1-1, 2.21) struck out 15 with seven walks in 19 innings of work. "Noah is going to throw a lot of competitive innings for us," Higgins said. "Carter was a go-to guy in relief last year and will get more starts this year, and Wesley was rock solid for us last year." Junior Brady Singer and seniors Grady Naseman and Nate King are other names who will see the mound this spring. "Guys are buying into the idea of getting ahead in the count, throwing a lot of strikes, and we have a lot of confidence in our defense," Higgins said. "We don't want to get too fancy on the mound; just get guys out." Among five regulars, Harp (first base) batted .316 last season with two doubles, three RBIs, and scored 13 times. Seniors Kaedyn Warner (.289, one double, two triples, eight RBIs) and Landon Ferkel (.288, eight RBIs, nine runs) will be at second base and shortstop. Helton will also see time at first when he isn't pitching and batted .264 with one double and one triple last season. Shupe will be in the outfield after he hit .22 with two doubles and 14 RBIs in 2025. "Noah hits the ball hard and runs the bases hard, so we're going to get him as many at-bats as we can," Higgin said. "The middle of the order is improving every day. We challenge them in the cage to keep their focus, and Carter and Wesley are two seniors we're expecting a lot from." Higgins said Shupe was one of the most unlucky hitters he had ever seen in 2025. "We're confident he will break out and contribute a lot this year," he said. "Kaedyn, we need him on base. He disrupts things. Both Kaedyn and Landon, we know what to expect. Landon has been a sneaky .290 hitter. "He will hit line drives all over, and all these kids will do what you ask. Laying down a bunt is part of our game. We want to move runners around and try and steal some bases. We're going to be aggressive, and however the chips fall, they fall." Singer will play third base, while Caiden Wilson returns to catch after he shared the position with Kevin Howard last season. Canyon Craig and Naseman are among those who will be in the outfield. As far as the league, Perkins enters the season as the No. 1-ranked team in the Division IV state coaches poll. The Pirates return a strong core from a team that reached the state title game last year. Higgins also anticipates the usual from the likes of Bellevue, Columbian, and Clyde. In 2025, Bellevue and Sandusky joined Norwalk and Perkins with overall winning records, while Clyde and Columbian, though below .500, each won 11 games. "Just look at the scores from year to year," he said. "It doesn't matter if it's Sandusky against Bellevue or Perkins, whoever. There are a ton of close games that are fun to watch when everyone's No. 1 and No. 2 starters face off. "So I never count anyone out, and I hope people feel that way about us as well. We'll come to play, just like those other teams will, too. It's cliché, but it's a really good, strong baseball league."