By PAUL DELANEY
Staff Reporter
They went at it hard this past Monday at Holliday Field, two intense rivals on one hand, but many good friends on the other.
Cheney swept an AA American Legion American League doubleheader 7-6 and 3-1. The wins moved Cheney (10-5) up in the standings and went a long way to improve their draw in the upcoming postseason.
Medical Lake (3-12) saw their already faint playoff chances flicker away. They close out the summer schedule playing three games this week, a rescheduled contest this past Tuesday versus Chewelah. They are at U-Hi tonight (July 12) at 5:30 p.m. and finish the season with a game at Mt. Spokane Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
In the opener, Cheney scored its decisive run in the top of the seventh on a hit and run and a brief bobble in right field that allowed the decisive run to score.
Medical Lake had their chance in the bottom of the seventh when Deven Wesebaum was left stranded at second.
The teams were tied at 5-5 after three innings so a high-scoring slugfest seemed in order.
“I'm surprised it was 7-6 the way the game started,” Medical Lake coach Kerry Kelly said.
Defense took over with Medical Lake turning a highlight-reel double play in the first game when Cheney's Nathan Netz roped a line drive down the first base line that Tommie Wilkie snared for one out. Wilkie then threw across to third to Roman Kissack and doubled off Cheney's Tanner Smith.
“That got us out of a big jam,” Kelly said because it was a bases-loaded situation.
Of Medical Lake's six hits Justin Hunt had a pair, including a double in the opener.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
Game two proved to be a great pitcher's duel between Cheney's Sawyer Sims and ML's Kissack. “I'm proud of him, I hope this will really carry over and give him more confidence going into next season,” Kelly said.
“They (Cheney) just made all the plays with pressure-filled outs, runners on third and two outs,” Kelly said. “The great thing about that play was not only was that ball scorched, I wouldn't be surprised if that ball wouldn't take his glove off,” Kelly said. Wilkie handled it and threw over to third, a one-hopper that Kissack made a great pick on it. That got us out of a big jam,” Kelly said because it was a bases-loaded situation.
Of Medical Lake's six hits Justin Hunt had a pair, including a double in the opener.
Game two proved to be a great pitcher's duel between Cheney's Sawyer Sims and ML's Kissack.
Kissack had yet another solid effort, similar to his outing against Vallivue in a 4-2 loss in the Wood Bat, giving up just three hits. “I'm proud of him, I hope this will really carry over and give him more confidence going into next season,” Kelly said. Kissack spent the night pitching from behind in the count, giving up balls before rallying to find the strike zone, Kelly said.
“They just made all the plays with pressure-filled outs, runners on third and two outs,” Kelly said.
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