SPOKANE — The game plan last week for Cheney fastpitch softball played out just as Coach Gary Blake hoped.
The Blackhawks got the wins they knew were possible, 14-2 over Ridgeline and 8-7 on the road at Mead.
The 20-0 loss to undefeated Greater Spokane League leader University was not unexpected.
As a result, Cheney’s 10-5 record is tied with Mead for third-place and the Blackhawks remain well-positioned for the postseason with three games to play.
“We did what we needed to do,” Blake said. “We won the two games that we needed, (beat) the one that was right on our tail and the one that we were chasing.”
A seven-run fourth inning for Cheney turned a pitcher’s duel into a rout and five more runs in the fifth sent everyone home early due to the 10-run rule.
Mia Ashcroft, back in the lineup after an injury, returned with gusto, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. But she has a solid supporting cast with Millie Beito and Maddy Hurley each adding a pair of hits. One of Beito’s hits was a double.
University came to Cheney as advertised at 15-0 in GSL — powerful.
“You kind of went in there eyes-wide-open knowing that it was likely not going to be pretty,” Blake said. The first meeting, however, was just a 7-0 Titans’ win.
No sooner had the nightcap began, University’s 11-run first inning largely decided things.
Ashcroft had the lone Cheney hit.
Next was trying to catch Mead.
Cheney rallied from down 3-0 with a three-run fourth only to allow Mead to double up and carry a 6-3 lead into the fifth.
After trading runs with Cheney trailing 7-4, the Blackhawks got the bats going for a four-run sixth.
Maya De La Cruz led off with a double, Alyssa Marlow’s bunt was an out and Sedona Ericson singled. Beito reached base with error loading the bases and an Ashcroft single scored two. Singles from Allie Halverson and Hurley drove in the other runs.
That left things up to Hurley who struck out two Mead batters in the sixth. She followed with three quick outs in the seventh on just five pitches.
Ashcroft led Cheney hitters last week with a .625 average with De La Cruz at .600.
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