By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
Cold bats and opponents' good pitching led to a split for the Cheney American Legion A team in games last week.
The Summer Hawks suffered their first shutout of the season, a 9-0 loss to Spokane American Legion South Division leaders' University No. 1 on June 22, followed by a 4-3, eight-inning setback against Colville in non-league action June 24. The Hawks returned to the winning track with a pair of victories to finish the week, downing last place West Valley 12-6 on June 25 and regaining their offensive stride with a nine-hit, 7-5 win over Ferris on Monday.
Cheney manager Steve Woods said the Hawks faced the same University pitcher that gave them a difficult time in an 11-4 Titans' win on June 22. The Hawks had just three hits by Devon Poulsen, Tyler Smith and Brandon Dixon in the second game.
“We couldn't buy a base hit,” Woods said.
The hitting slump continued at home against Colville with Cheney managing just four hits, two by Austin Harding. To make things more difficult, Colville brought in their closer in the seventh and eighth innings, a pitcher Woods said “threw pretty hard” in shutting down what was left of the Hawks' offensive chances.
Cheney's offensive woes continued last Friday against West Valley. What helped the Hawks win was their ability to capitalize on Eagles' defensive errors while getting some good pitching of their own.
Starter Connor Netz went three innings for the win, with Harding pitching the fourth and fifth and Smith the sixth and seventh. Robby Cook and Tanner Gamby both led offensively with two hits each.
Woods feels the Hawks' offense returned in Monday's home win against second-place Ferris. Cheney bats produced hits in opportune situations, with Cook delivering a first-inning 2RBI single and Gamby a pinch-hit 2RBI single in the fifth.
Harding added a pair of singles and Poulsen chipped in with a single and a double. Jacob Overhoff went five innings on the mound to get the win, with Smith coming on for two innings of relief.
Cheney also played well defensively. Cook led the way with six putouts from third base in the game, including a double play with runners on first and second in the top of the seventh inning and no outs.
“Robby really helped us out today,” Woods said late Monday night.
Woods attributes the Hawks' hitting slump to the players trying to figure out how they can contribute to the success of the team. Woods said they had a team meeting prior to the game where he reiterated the most important thing they can do is to keep competing no matter what.
“Like I told them, they competed (against Ferris) and they won,” Woods said.
The split keeps fifth-place Cheney in the thick of the playoff race with a 7-2 South Division record, 10-3 overall. The Hawks faced Ferris again in a road game June 29, results next week, and get a week off before resuming league play with home and away games against third-place Lewis and Clark July 7 and July 8.
Cheney still has division games with Central Valley and North Central that were postponed because of weather. Woods said he hasn't heard back from those coaches about setting make up games.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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