Big week awaits Norwalk

The Norwalk baseball team’s big week of games was reduced by one Monday with the postponement of the home game against Bellevue.
But Truckers coach Wes Douglas knows there are other challenges ahead.
Norwalk, at 4-0 in the Northern Ohio League, sits atop the standings.
Bellevue, Shelby and Tiffin Columbian all have one loss. The Truckers will try again today with a home game against the Tornadoes and go to Shelby Thursday.
“We’re happy with the position we’ve put ourselves in,’’ Douglas said. “We don’t want to get overly excited. It’s definitely a statement week.’’
Norwalk is 10-2 overall on the season and getting production from multiple sources.
Junior Dustin Lieber is hitting .415 with a team-leading two homers and 15 RBI.
Senior Logan Shullick is at .414, sophomore Isaac Perry .379, junior Evan Bader .325 and senior Johnie Wilcox .282 are the other top hitters among the regulars.
Shullick has clubbed five doubles, Wilcox checks in with 10 RBI and Bader paces the way with 16 runs scored.
“They’ve all been pretty consistent and given us great leadership,’’ Douglas said. “Dustin Lieber is only a junior, but is a three-year starter and Johnie Wilcox has always been a nice pitcher.’’
Wilcox leads the pitching staff with three wins. He has a 2.45 earned run average with 22 strikeouts and just four walks. Bader has also achieved two wins.
“I think it sets up with our starting pitching,’’ Douglas said. “Our team ERA is under three. Some of the other players seeing their first varsity action have stepped up. (Junior) Garrick Smith is 2-0 on the mound, (junior) Cam Wrabel has five hits, (sophomore) Collin Souter has won twice and (junior) Nate Light is hitting .364.”
In addition, junior Nick Davis came through with the game-winning hit against Willard a week ago today.
The game against Bellevue has been rescheduled for May 3.
“Everybody is in the same boat,’’ Douglas said of the weather this spring. “We have a great indoor facility. It’s a battle you can’t win. We’ll try to stay as sharp as we can and stay mentally focused. The kids and coaches have been through it before. We’ll be ready to go when our next game is.’’
Douglas expects close games this week against the Tornadoes and Whippets.
“We’ll definitely see their top pitchers and they’ll see ours,’’ he said. “It comes down to the team that can manufacture runs and play steady defense. Upper Sandusky played us tough down there (the Truckers won 4-1). There are no gimmies in this league.’’
Norwalk last won a NOL crown in 2006.
Regardless of what happens this week, the Truckers will face the NOL teams again in the second round of league play. They will also take on Bellevue twice in three days.
“All we can do is be prepared, do our best and see where we go from there,’’ Douglas said.