Ferris ends Cheney slow pitch season

CHENEY – The Blackhawks' slow pitch softball team's strong finish to the 2023 season ended Friday, Oct. 13, in a one-game tiebreaker playoff loss, 11-5, to Ferris.

Cheney, which had won four-of-five games to land in a tie in Greater Spokane League standings with the Saxons for the final playoff spot, had numerous times when they left runners in scoring position.

Ferris did not, using a pair of three-run innings in the sixth and seventh to pull away after Cheney had closed to within 5-3 with a three-run bottom of the third.

Cheney's Mia Ashcroft was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs and the Blackhawks hit safely 13 times, just sometimes not when they really needed to.

"I can remember several innings when we had runners like at second and third," Coach Gary Blake said. "We either popped up or hit a weak ground ball to end the inning."

Sometimes a pitcher in slow pitch "Gets kind of boring," Blake said. But not Friday. "Their pitcher was throwing some reasonable stuff," that had Blackhawk batters going after a number of first pitches.

Earlier in the week Cheney defeated Ferris 7-6 to help earn them the extra game.

Cheney finished the season 5-8 in GSL play and 6-12 overall.