The Cheney High baseball team opened their season on a high note, March 12, with wins over Prosser (21-2) and Sunnyside (12-2).
Against Prosser, Cheney scored nine runs in the first inning and six more in the second to make it a 15-0 lead. Prosser prevented the shutout after scoring runs in the third and fourth innings. The Blackhawks maintained their lead with four runs in the fourth inning. They capped their scoring with two runs in the fifth to force the 10-run mercy rule.
Offensive highlights for Cheney included Logan Pratt’s three hits, including a double, Cade Van Wormer’s two hits, one a triple, Jackson Shaw’s two hits and a double from Harrison King.
“We were able to put the ball in play,” head coach Mike Cagle said. “When their pitcher threw in our strike zone, we produced.”
Cameron Wiseman (1-0) recorded his first win on the mound while Andrew Witt relieved him in the fifth inning.
“Cameron pitched well in that game,” Cagle said. “He’s a good athlete and has a good curve ball.”
In Cheney’s second game, Sunnyside opened scoring with two runs in the first inning. Down 2-0 in the fourth inning, the Blackhawks took the lead after scoring six runs, followed by six more runs in the fifth inning to invoke the 10-run mercy rule. Offensive highlights include a triple from King, a double from Chance Gleave and Pratt’s two hits.
Cagle described Sunnyside, who plays in the 4A Columbia Basin Big 9, as a “scrappy team” whose pitcher gave the Blackhawks trouble for the first three innings. He added that the team made three mental errors in the start of the game.
“We had to earn those runs in the fourth,” Cagle said. “One of the challenges for us this season is we’ll have to maintain our focus when we play aggressive teams.”
Shaw (1-0), who Cagle noted as a “quick learner,” recorded his first pitching win while Dylan Arthur took over in the fourth inning.
“I was kind of disappointed that we didn’t get to play two full games,” Cagle said. “I was glad to win, but we would have had more kids pitching if we had played 14 innings instead of 10.”
Cagle said he has six players who can throw on the mound. Brayden Butikofer and Cade Van Wormer will share catching duties.
Cheney (2-0 overall) played Northeast A’s Medical Lake, March 15. They host Freeman in the first regular home game, March 18, then enter Great Northern League play against Pullman, March 22.
“Pullman usually finishes strong,” Cagle said. ‘They have a couple of really good pitchers and they’re really well-coached. I’m excited to see where we’re at when we play them.”
Several returners are seniors, including King, Butikofer, Pratt, Gleave and Jones. Cagle said his seniors, especially those who play in the infield, came into the season with more confidence. Juniors like Shaw and Jack Peabody will also play roles on the team.
Last season, Cheney won nine of their first 11 regular season games, then lost their last seven. They finished 7-9 in the league and tied for third place with Clarkston. Cheney managed to make it to the first round of the 2A state playoffs where they lost to the Fife Trojans.
Cagle, who is in his third year of coaching the team, hopes to be more consistent with wins this year.
“(Last year) we started off well, then kind of floundered and got back on track in the postseason,” Cagle said. “I hope to be more even and consistent this year. We want to go after these teams and do the best we can heading into the first part of May.”
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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