Cheek’s historic no-hitter lifts HCHS past Rams

 HARLAN -- Steve Daeges is in his 24th year as Harlan Community’s head baseball coach, during which time the Cyclones have qualified for state 15 times and won three state titles.
 To his best recollection, Daeges had never witnessed a postseason no-hitter by one of his pitchers until Joshua Cheek pulled off that very feat here Monday night.
 Retiring nine straight Greene County batters on two separate occasions, Cheek pitched his first career no-hitter, allowed just two unearned runs in the seventh inning and helped his own cause with an RBI double as the top-ranked Cyclones held off the Rams 4-2 in a Class 3-A district final at Jim Goeser Field.
 Cheek (7-1) required only 88 pitches to complete his third career postseason win. The senior right-hander walked one batter, hit two and struck out five.
 At the end of the night, the scoreboard showed one hit for Greene County - courtesy of Chase Stoline reaching first to lead off the game - but media members and all those in the Cyclone dugout scored the play an error and gave Cheek the no-no.
 “It just feels like a win,” a humble Cheek said of his accomplishment.
 “I just try to always stay calm and let my defense work behind me, just as I’ve always done since I was a sophomore. Not overpowering people, just letting the defense work.”
 Cheek’s mettle was tested in the top of the seventh when a 4-0 Cyclone lead quickly turned into a sticky situation.
 After Cheek hit the leadoff batter, Trey Tucker, Dylan Fouch’s roller up the middle was mishandled by shortstop Dillon Sears. The next batter was retired, but a throwing error by third baseman Connor Bruck allowed two runs to score and brought the tying run to the plate.
 Cheek buckled down, retiring Nick Breon on a comebacker to the mound and Logan Lansman on a grounder to short to end the game.