Huskie softball beat by Cheney

SPOKANE - The Othello softball team had plans for a return trip to the state tournament in Selah May 25 and 26. But the Huskies were dealt a heartbreaking 10-4 loss to the Blackhawks Saturday in a loser out game to end their season.

"Well it didn't end the way it was supposed to," coach Rudy Ochoa said. "We figured we would make it to state, but wasn't meant to be."

The Huskies looked to be in control of the game as they jumped out to 2-0 lead after the first inning and a half.

Cheney got a run back in the bottom of the second to close the gap to 2-1. The Blackhawks held Othello off the board in the top of the third, then exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the frame to race out front 8-2.

Cheney made it 10-2 with a run in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Huskies mounted a comeback of sorts, but only managed to produce two runs in the top of the seventh and lost the game by a half dozen, 10-4.

"We actually out hit Cheney, but also had more errors than they did," Ochoa said. "Our hits just didn't come at the right time. Kim Bullis was not available for us as she got hurt just before the game. That, of course, didn't help matters much either."

Despite the early exit from postseason play, Ochoa said the season was still a success.

"I think our year went fairly well. We had a young team and are only losing three seniors to graduation," he said. "As a team, the girls got along very well and the parents were great. That in itself is huge. I wish we could have gone further because it would have been a great reward for the way they played this year."