Norwalk stays hot with seventh straight win

NORWALK — Things had a chance to go sideways. That was true in the top of the first inning of Norwalk softball's SBC Lake Division game against Perkins, but also for its season as well. The Truckers gave up a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first inning but quickly responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. That set the stage for scoring over the first five innings of Thursday's 10-2 win over the Pirates. Norwalk (11-9, 7-2) has won seven straight games and eight of its last nine. The Truckers trail Clyde (10-8, 6-1) by one game in the Lake standings with one game left. "I think we realized that there needed to be some urgency, and it kind of just clicked with us," senior right fielder Reagan Mooney said. "We realized the daily consistency and hard work at practice were carrying over, and it all kept adding up." After issuing a leadoff walk and hitting a batter, it was nearly trouble for Norwalk pitcher Saige Viock. But a quick throw to the other senior, Audryn Ott, allowed the Truckers to get the lead runner picked off. But with two outs, Perkins had two walks and a fielding error that allowed two runs to score. From there, Viock didn't give up a hit. She fought through 10 total walks but struck out six to finish with a seven-inning no-hitter. "It was a seven-inning no-hitter that was a grind," NHS head coach Julie Schmidt said of Viock. "She had to battle through those early emotions, but also, things weren't working how she wanted them to. "Saige had to find ways around that. She used her off-speed in pivotal ways, and that was the difference in keeping them off balance and throwing a no-hitter." Meanwhile, the Truckers loaded the bases on three straight walks to start the bottom of the first. Maddie Gamble scored on a wild pitch, then Ott singled on a ground ball to short to tie the game at 2-2. "We buckled down and played our game, and we play for each other more now," Ott said. "We're all doing our part for each other." In the second, Sophia Ames doubled with one out, and teammate Lola Schlotterer followed with an RBI double to give Norwalk the lead for good. With the bases loaded and two outs, Scarlet Schneider then delivered a two-run single for a 5-2 lead. Norwalk broke the game open in the bottom of the third. Alexis Dellisanti singled and scored on a fielding error for a 6-2 lead. Ames, who reached on the error, came around to score on a passed ball for the seventh run, then Viock helped her cause with an RBI single to make it 8-2. Schneider walked in the fourth and scored on an RBI double by Dellisanti in the fourth. Gamble tripled and scored on an RBI groundout by Viock to close the scoring in the fifth. "There was still pressure, but it's a fresh game after putting that first inning behind us," Schmidt said. "Senior Day can be emotional, and there are things to work through, so that first inning is always hard, anyways." Eight of the nine players for Norwalk reached base in Thursday's win. Now, the Truckers need some help in the form of either Sandusky (9-6, 3-3) or the Pirates (8-11, 4-5), who face Clyde three times between them on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Meanwhile, the Truckers close out their regular season on Monday at Tiffin Columbian (1-14, 0-8). Norwalk held off a late rally by Columbian in a 7-6 win on April 28. Norwalk visits Lexington (12-9) in a Division III sectional title game on Wednesday. "They let the failure fuel them," Schmidt said of her team's turnaround. "The girls changed their energy to a positive place where they are making the best out of the situation we are in. "They are putting us in a positive spot. They are doing everything they can right now to be competitive, which allowed us to stay in it." Perkins 200 000 0 — 2 0 1 Norwalk 233 110 x — 10 8 2 WP: Viock; LP: Bohn 2B: (N) Ames, Dellisanti, Schlotterer; 3B: (N) Gamble