Norwalk’s Top 10 list of sports stories for the 2021-22 school year has reached the Top 5, but today we pause to recognize some of the honorable mention stories that just missed the Top 10 cut.

On the baseball diamond, Warrior junior Ian Fisher and senior Vinny Mauro both ranked among the top five strikeout pitchers in Class 4A. Fisher, who pitched a five-inning perfect game against Oskaloosa on June 20, finished the season with a 7-1 record, a 1.05 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 60 innings. Mauro struck out 86 batters in 56 ⅓ innings, going 2-4 with a 2.61 ERA.

During the spring season, the Norwalk doubles team of Olivia and Ava Johnson qualified for the Class 2A Girls State Tennis Tournament held May 27-28 at the Waukee Northwest High School Tennis Complex. The Johnson sisters advanced to state by placing second in the Ames Regional meet, then placed eighth out of 16 state qualifying teams with a 2-3 record.

One of the most memorable Little Hawkeye Conference boys basketball series of the year involved Norwalk and Dallas Center-Grimes. The Warriors and Mustangs played a combined seven overtimes in their two matchups. DC-G prevailed 70-64 in a four-OT game January 11, then defeated Norwalk again 63-61 in three overtimes February 8.

The Norwalk volleyball team wrapped up a 23-18 season last fall by qualifying for its first regional final in recent memory. The Warriors were ousted in three sets by Cedar Rapids Xavier in the Region 4 championship match on October 26.

The countdown of Norwalk’s top 10 sports stories will continue on Monday with number five.