Cheney third baseman Devin Cook tracks down a ground ball during Cheney's first-round playoff loss to Clarkston last Thursday.
The same magic that propelled Cheney to a baseball state tournament appearance last season - and seemed poised to do so again this year - faded last Thursday against visiting Clarkston.
The fourth-seeded Bantams got all the scoring they would need in the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a two-base throwing error by the Blackhawks. Clarkston proceeded to add nine more runs in eliminating third-seeded Cheney 10-0 in Great Northern League first-round playoff action.
Cheney finishes the season at 7-5 in the GNL, 9-10 overall, winning five consecutive games including sweeps of East Valley and Clarkston. A split with Pullman kept the Blackhawks from moving higher in the GNL standings, but was enough to earn a home playoff game.
The Blackhawks lose four players to graduation: Jacob Lauber, John Ennis, Dylan Arthur and Angel Imbrenda. The cupboard won't be bare for second-year head coach Glenn Chamberlain as six juniors, four sophomores and three freshman could return to next year's varsity.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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