Ege, Koch home runs carry Braves

Cherokee's Brandon Henke takes a cautious lead off first base during recent Lakes Conference baseball action for the 14-1 Braves in Cherokee. The Braves host Storm Lake tonight and play in the Carroll Tournament Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Paul Struck [Click to enlarge]

EMMETSBURG - The potent Cherokee Braves feasted on Emmetsburg pitching to score 13 runs in the first two innings on the way to a 17-5 demolition of the E-Hawks in a 5-inning Lakes Conference encounter here Wednesday night.

Once again Matt Koch and Cody Ege led the Braves with the long ball, Ege having a superb 3-4 night with a three-run home run in the second inning, and Koch going 2-2 with a two-run dinger in the fourth frame. Ege finished with four RBI and Koch with three.

Tyler Jones of Cherokee grabs the loose bat and heads to the dugout after scoring a run for the Braves in recent Lakes Conference baseball action here, while teammate Kyle Schuck (18) gets ready for his at-bat. Photo by Paul Struck. [Click to enlarge]

Also swinging big bats for the Braves were Kyle Schuett 3-5 with a double, Tyler Jones 2-4 with a double and RBI, Kyle Schuck 1-2 with an RBI, Phillip Schulenburg a double, Tony Hunt a single and RBI, and Matt Pitts a single and run scored.

Jones also got the pitching win for Cherokee, allowing no run, hits, or walks, and striking out four in two innings of work. Starter Gordy Gill gave up four earned runs on five hits and one walk, and struck out two in two innings. Koch pitched one inning and struck out all three batters he faced.

"Tyler came in and got us out of a bases-loaded jam in the third. He did a very nice job in relief," said Cherokee coach Scott Koch.

The 14-1 Braves, rated first all season and now ranked third in the State in Class 2A due to a mistake by the pollsters who have saddled the Braves with two losses instead of just the one they have, host Storm Lake tonight, and play Saturday and Sunday at the Carroll Tournament. Their first game is noon Saturday.