Cheney snaps four-game losing streak at East Valley

After a couple of weeks of quiet bats, the Cheney High baseball team has seemingly gotten themselves out of what head coach Mike Cagle called an “offensive funk.”

The Blackhawks defeated East Valley, 6-4, April 26, snapping their four-game losing streak. The team had 12 hits on the day, the most since their April 2, 10-5 win over the Knights.

Cheney had a strong lead through most of the game, scoring runs in the second, third (two), sixth and seventh innings. East Valley’s comeback attempt was limited to four runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Cagle said he could not point to one specific reason for his team’s productive day at the plate.

“We had a good approach at the plate, and I shifted the lineup a little bit,” Cagle said. “It was just one of those days where you knew something good was going to happen. It felt good to hit a few balls and be competitive.”

Trey Martin had three hits including a double, Cade VanWormer had two hits and a triple and Jack Peabody had two hits and a double. Harrison King had two hits and Andrew Witt, Jackson Shaw and Logan Pratt added one each.

While hard-hitters like VanWormer, King, Martin and Witt have been “solid” at the plate and in the field, Cagle noted how younger players like Peabody and Shaw have stepped up in their first year on varsity.

Chance Gleave (3-2) got the win on the mound, giving up four unearned runs on four hits.

“Chance was on his A-game, I was very pleased with how he threw in that game,” Cagle said.

Cheney (6-8 GNL, 8-10 overall) is currently in a three-way tie for second place with West Valley (6-8, 6-8) and Pullman (6-8, 6-11). They hosted the Eagles, May 3, and will play the Greyhounds tonight (May 5, Senior Night).

If the Blackhawks defeat both teams, they would clinch the No. 2 seed in the district playoffs and host the No. 5 seed in a loser-out game on Saturday, May 7.

If Cheney loses both games, they would drop to No. 4 and play at the No. 3 seed on Saturday. Regardless of where they play, a win on Saturday advances Cheney to the semifinal game on Monday, May 9. If the Blackhawks win on Monday, they will automatically qualify for a 2A regional game and play No. 1 Clarkston (12-2, 14-2) in the GNL title game.

“It all comes down to what happens on Saturday and Monday,” Cagle said. “We could certainly win the district. All we’ve got to do is play our best baseball.”

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].