Blackhawks' softball wins pair

CHENEY – The girls fastpitch softball team crafted a two-game winning streak and has won four of its last five outings through April 21, doing so in some dramatic fashion.

Rebounding from a 13-0 rout at the hands of Mount Spokane April 18, the Blackhawks crafted an improbable win over Ferris, 16-15, April 20 before finishing the week with a 14-9 victory at Lewis and Clark April 21 in Grater Spokane League play.

Mia Ashcroft drove in the winning run with a walk-off single as part of a seven-run seventh inning for the Blackhawks. Ashcroft was 4 for 4 with two doubles and three runs scored.

But she wasn’t finished as the following afternoon at Hart Field, Ashcroft was 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a pair of doubles in a game that saw Cheney rally from a 5-0 first-inning deficit against LC.

The Blackhawks scored six runs in the fifth to break a 6-6 tie as Tatum Sloan went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

It was certainly a solid offensive week overall for Ashcroft, who hit .600 in the three games. Rounding out the top three hitters for the week were Rhyan Kucirka at .500 and Tatum Sloan at .455. 

Offense aside, the team had a solid defensive effort last week with a .922 fielding average,” head coach Gary Blake wrote in an email. “Maya De La Cruz continued as our workhorse on the mound, pitching 18 of the 19 innings we played and being the pitcher of record in all three games,” he added.

Ridgeline visited Cheney April 25, with the Blackhawks traveling to University, April 27 before coming back home to face Mead, April 28.

Both games have 4 p.m. starts.