The newest member of this year’s Norwalk softball coaching staff is no stranger to the Warriors’ current run of state tournament success.

Lauren Black, who was Norwalk’s starting catcher for the past three state tourney teams, is now an assistant coach as the program prepares for a fourth consecutive trip to Fort Dodge. Black finished her prep career with 26 home runs and has played one season for Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

Black tells KNIA Sports that her new role with the team has been an adjustment, but says she has had fun learning a new side of the girls that she used to play with. “Instead of being one of their friends or a sister to them, I’m a coach, and you learn a different side of them – how they talk to adults or how they’ve matured the last year without [me] being here,” Black said. “It’s been fun, it really has, just connecting with them on a different side of the field.”

Black plans to enter the education field and has an interest in coaching. When approached about the idea of adding his former player to the staff, Norwalk head coach Beau Livingston was happy to welcome back his catcher. “I always tell these girls once they leave here, anything that they need I am here for them,” he said. “And anytime we have a former player that wants to come back, we’re going to find a spot for them. She’s done a great job – just her growth and maturity – and it was probably a little awkward for the first couple weeks but she’s settled in and done a really, really nice job.”

Livingston adds that when starting catcher Ava Garvey was forced out of the lineup for a big part of the season, Coach Black stepped up and did a great job of mentoring and guiding sophomore Hailey Hook, who showed tremendous growth throughout the season.

Black adds that this year’s players have put in a lot of hard work. She is hopeful that this is the year the Warriors can make a run to the state championship game and bring home a Class 4A title. “Just watching them grow as women and being who they are as a team, it really has been fun,” she said, “and I really am hoping this year is different than the last three years.”

The 2nd-ranked Warriors open state tournament play in Fort Dodge on Monday, facing North Scott in a 4A quarterfinal at 12:15.