COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: Coe off to fast start on softball diamond

By Chad Cooper, community contributor

CEDAR RAPIDS - Coe is preparing to begin play in what many believe is one of the most powerful softball conference in the nation.

The Kohawks (18-2) are ranked second in the latest NFCA Top 25 poll, their highest ranking since 2009.

Coe, which kicked off the season by winning eight straight games, is led by solid hitting and lockdown pitching. Coe already has recorded 10 shutouts this year and senior Ashlee Simon recorded her 1,000th career strikeout en route to pitching her first career perfect game on March 17. Simon's 18 strikeouts during the game tied her career-high for the third time.

The Kohawks begin Iowa Conference play Sunday, hosting Wartburg.

The Iowa Conference is a traditional softball power and has two other teams nationally - defending champion Luther at No. 3 and Central at No. 8.

Two other teams have more than 10 wins, including Cornell at 10-4.

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