Ginger Ewing Cheney Year: Senior Sport: Softball Position: Outfielder

“Listen, Ginger, I have this great idea.”

With words to that effect, Cheney softball coach Kirk Madison asked center fielder Ginger Ewing to hit left-handed instead of right-handed.

Ewing at first resisted the notion.

“I’d always tried to be a power hitter, tried to hit for the home run,” Ewing said.

Madison eventually wore down Ewing, who last week went 16 for 17 to raise her batting average from .345 to around .667.

“Now I joke around in practice and tell (Madison) I’m going to hit right-handed again,” Ewing said. “But I don’t think I could if I wanted to.”

“I knew she’d be a .250 hitter from the right side,” Madison said. “She didn’t buy into (changing) early … then she realized the importance of getting on base any way.”

Ewing competed at the State AA basketball tournament the last three seasons. She played soccer her sophomore year and was a cheerleader last fall.

Cheney assistant softball coach Rod Bliss has asked Ewing to try out for the new Whitworth College team. Ewing is also considering Washington State University.

By winning four of their last five games, the Blackhawks are in position to qualify for the District AA/A tournament.

, DataTimes