By JOHN HANSEN | Norwalk Knights
Norwalk hosted the La Crescent Cardinals at Wilton in the Mississippi Valley League opener May 28, falling 12–4.
La Crescent opened up the scoring with a run in the first. In the bottom of the first, Norwalk took the lead when Noah Herried doubled, Jack Hansen singled, and Ashley Thayer had a two-run double, giving the Knights a 2–1 lead.
In the second, Aaron Steffel added an RBI single to make the lead 3–1, though the Cardinals answered with two runs in the third and three runs in the fourth. John Hansen walked and scored on Jack Hansen’s RBI single to cut the deficit to 6–4, but that was as close as Norwalk would get in the 12–4 loss.
The leading hitters were Herried, 3–5 (double); Jack Hansen, 3–5; Steffel, 2–5; Thayer (double); and John Hansen, 2–3.
Knights rally late, nip the Black Sox 6–5
The Knights hosted the Viroqua Black Sox at Wilton on June 4.
Norwalk started Jordan Murray, who allowed four runs in six innings of work.
Viroqua scored in the bottom of the first. In the third, Jack Hansen doubled, Jaden Havlik walked, and Matt Muellenberg drilled a three-run homer to left to give Norwalk a 3–1 lead.
Viroqua took back the lead with two runs in the fourth, one run in the fifth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Havlik walked and scored on John Hansen’s RBI single to cut the lead to 5–4.
In the bottom of the eighth, Colton Brueggeman led off with a bunt single, and Matt Hansen was hit by a pitch to set the table. Jack Hansen tied the game with a RBI single, plating Brueggeman. Havlik drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single to left. Then Noah Flock closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth, and Norwalk took the victory 6–5.
The leading hitters were Matt Hansen, 2–4 (double); Jack Hansen, 2–5 (double); Muellenberg, 3–5 (home run); John Hansen, 3–5; and Brueggeman, 2–4.
The Knights’ record is 1–1.
Norwalk Knights Schedule
• 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, at Coon Valley vs. Chaseburg–Coon Valley
• 1 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Mauston
• 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18, at home vs. Bangor
• 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, at Sparta
• 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25, vs. LaX 35ers at Stoddard
• 1 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at home vs. Sparta
• 7 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at Viroqua
• 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 9, at home vs. Chaseburg–Coon Valley
• 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, vs. La Crescent
• 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23, at Bangor
• 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 31, vs. Lansing (doubleheader)
• Sunday, Aug. 6 — Mississippi Valley League tournament (final four) at Lansing
• Friday, Aug. 11, to Sunday, Aug. 13 — WBA districts
• Friday, Aug. 18, to Sunday, Aug. 20 — WBA state