Cheney finishes one of its best seasons at 19-3, one win short of state as Ellensburg prevails 6-0
Cheney Lady Blackhawks hitter Adriana Suiter takes aim at a pitch from Ellensburg's Carissa Burgess.
Ellensburg freshman pitcher Carissa Burgess held the Cheney High softball team to just one hit while teammate Karly Malcolm gave her all the run support she would need with a first-inning solo home run as the visiting Bulldogs downed the Blackhawks 6-0 in winner to state regional action Saturday afternoon at Cheney.
Malcolm blasted a leadoff shot over the fence in center off Cheney starter Julia Boyd, and Burgess helped herself later in the inning with a single to left that scored Darian Olin for a 2-0 lead. The Bulldogs added two more in the fifth, another in the sixth on Malcolm's second solo shot of the day and one more in the seventh for the win, earning their ninth consecutive trip to the 2A state tournament.
Cheney's only hit came with one out in the fourth when Cheyenne Wright singled to right field. The Lady Blackhawks had trouble catching up with Burgess' pitching, with 11 of their 21 total outs made in the infield. Burgess also struck out seven.
Boyd went the distance, giving up six runs, five earned, on 14 hits, walking one and striking out five.
Cheney finishes the season 19-3 overall, 14-2 in Great Northern League play. The season provided several firsts for the Lady Blackhawks' program – a first GNL regular season title and a first District 7 crown.
Cheney will lose six players to graduation, Adriana Suiter, Jeena Bushnell, Cassie Schliep, Wright, Boyd and Cheyenne Hanson.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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