Cheney Fastpitch season ends with loss to Kennewick

CHENEY— The Blackhawks were looking to make a deep postseason run. But a district first-round forfeit to Walla Walla and a second-round 7-5 loss to Kennewick on May 18 knocked Cheney out of the playoff and ended the teams’ season.

“We had early problems —gave up 4 runs in the first inning and dug ourselves a big hole,” Coach Gary Blake said. “That’s kinda been our problem all year—getting down early in games and then having to find a way to back in them.”

The Lions brought another run across the dish in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-0 Kennewick.

Cheney posted a run in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to get within striking distance, 5-2. The Lions responded with a couple of runs in the bottom of the sixth to increase the lead to 7-2.

The Blackhawks hung three on the board in the top of the seventh to close the gap to 7-5 and had an opportunity to tie it or take the lead with two runners on base and two outs. But Cheney was unable to drive them in and dropped the game.

The Blackhawks will lose three key players to graduation, Maddie McDowell and sisters Pyper and Parker Cagle. Although Cheney returns a veteran squad next spring, Blake said it would be difficult to replace his three seniors.

“They were a big part of our success—a big part of this team—or leading hitters,” Blake said. “It’ll be a big challenge to replace our battery mates Maddie and Pyper our starting pitcher and catcher. But we do have three infielders and our starting outfield coming back.”

Blake said he’s unsure of the talent moving up from the middle school, but after seeing a couple of games, he thought there could be players with potential.

“There might be a few, but there is a big difference in talent level on top of not knowing how to compete with older players,” Blake said. “But Mia Ashcroft (freshman) hit and played well for us and made Second Team All-GSL as an infielder, so you never know what you might be getting.”

Several other Blackhawks received league honors. Catcher Pyper Cagle was named First Team All-GSL. Parker Cagle, Rhyan Kucirka and Sedona Ericson joined Ashcroft on the Second Team All-GSL squad. Maddie McDowell and Tatum Sloan were named All-GSL Honorable Mention.