Rated E-Hawks slam Cherokee girls

Cherokee shortstop Megan Hummel camps under a fly ball ready to make the catch, while second baseman Brooke Luetkeman hustles over to assist in recent softball action in Cherokee. Photo by Paul Struck [Click to enlarge]

EMMETSBURG - The sixth-ranked Emmetsburg E-Hawk softball team ran roughshod over the youthful Cherokee Washington High girls 11-0 in five innings in Lakes Conference action here Wednesday night.

The closest Cherokee came to scoring was in the first inning when Autumn Shaefer singled with two outs, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and arrived at third after a single off the bat of Jackie Wilson. However, Amanda Kohn then lined out to first for the third out after a good at-bat to end that uprising.

Shaefer, Wilson, and Kohn had the only hits for Cherokee off tough E-Hawk hurler Maddison Woodruff, who struck out six Cherokee batters in five innings of work.

Katie Sambrano of Cherokee watches for the throw in from the outfield as an opposing base runner pulls into third base in recent Lakes Conference softball in Cherokee. Photo by Paul Struck [Click to enlarge]

Kelsey Ludwig took the pitching loss for Cherokee, allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits. She was victimized in the field by six costly Cherokee errors.

Woodruff led the potent E-Hawks with a grand slam home run, and Katie Corley was 2-3 with a home run.

"We made more contact off Woodruff tonight than we did the last time we faced her," said Cherokee coach Cara Lubeck. "Unfortunately, we hit the ball right at them and they made the plays."

Cherokee is now 2-15 this season and 1-9 in the rugged Lakes Conference. Emmetsburg is 16-5 over all and 9-2 in the Lakes.

Cherokee plays in the Spencer Tournament today and Saturday, and hosts Hull Western Christian Monday night.