Prep report: Hawks, Eskomos have perfect days in tournament play

Hermantown had a successful Saturday, winning both its games in the sixth annual, Alto, Buckley, Hanson Invitational hosted by Grand Rapids.

The Hawks (8-2) won both their games, knocking off Cherry 14-1 and topping Hibbing 5-2.

In the win over Cherry, Lindsey Ewer struck out seven Tigers and didn't walk any, allowing just one run. Four Hawks had two hits apiece: Josie Anderson, Jadyn Lind, Molly Sonneson and Baylee Edwards. Anderson drove in four runs and Lind had a double.

Claire Cushman had a pair of hits for Cherry.

Against Hibbing, Natalie Vitek did the honors in the circle, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while racking up 15 strikeouts. She also doubled twice at the plate for her own cause, while Camille Wikstrom added a pair of hits.

Aune Boben allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits and struck out six in six innings for the Bluejackets.

Esko used a little defense and a little offense to sweep three games in an eight-team tournament hosted by Concordia Academy in Roseville, Minnesota on Saturday.

The Eskomos blanked Aitkin 6-0, then outslugged the hosts 14-12 before defeating Litchfield 5-2.

In the win over Litchfield, Esko scored four unanswered runs, taking the lead in the fifth on a bunt single by Avery Kuklinski. Kaitlyn Adkins had two hits and two RBIs. Esko used three pitchers, with Kaelyn Foxx allowing no runs on two hits over the last three innings.

In the Concordia game, Esko had 15 hits, with Amber Carlblom and Jayden Karppinen contributing three apiece. Three others had two-hit games.

Carlblom pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs (three earned) and striking out seven.

Superior softball went 2-1 in tournament play at Chippewa Falls, defeating Watertown 9-6 and Middleton 4-0 before losing 3-0 to Kaukauna.

Emma Raye went 4-for-5 with a double in the win over Watertown, which three other players accumulating two hits each.

In the Middleton game, Raye went 3-for-3 with a double, three others had two-hit games and Ari Robillard and Haley Zembo combined on a four-hit shutout.

Raye went 2-for-3 in the finale, but the Ghosts allowed only two other hits and got the win despite Robillard and Zembo allowing only three unearned runs on four hits.

Superior rallied from 4-2 down, winning on George Hanson's walk-off single in the seventh inning.

Caleb Kilroy went 5-for-8 on the day, but the Hunters dropped a pair of games at Wade Stadium.

Mason Boos went 3-for-4, scored three times and drove in two. Carter Boos was the winning pitcher, allowing five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

PREP SCOREBOARD
BASEBALL
Perham 17, Esko 2
Spring Lake Park 17, Duluth Denfeld 8
White Bear Lake 7, Duluth Denfeld 1
Hermantown 7, Spring Lake Park 4
Perham 18, Duluth East 6
Superior 5, Rice Lake 4
Duluth Marshall 11, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 2

BOYS LACROSSE
Mahtomedi 7, Duluth 0

GIRLS LACROSSE
Grand Rapids/Greenway 16, Big Lake 2
Brainerd 9, Duluth 8

BOYS TENNIS
Duluth Denfeld 5, Princeton 2

SOFTBALL
Hermantown 14, Cherry 1
Hibbing 6, Grand Rapids 4
Hermantown 5, Hibbing 2
Grand Rapids 4, Cherry 3
Barnum 14, Mountain Iron-Buhl 6
Cloquet 8, Eveleth-Gilbert 3
Mountain Iron-Buhl 7, Nashwauk-Keewatin 6
Esko 5, Litchfield 2
Esko 6, Aitkin 0
Esko 14, Concordia Academy 12
Superior 9, Watertown 6
Superior 4, Middleton 0
Kaukauna 3, Superior 0