Cruisers sweep Clover Park

Eatonville bounced back from dropping two games to Highline to open league play last week, to explode for 29 runs on 28 hits over two games to sweep Clover Park and even out their SPSL league record at 2-2.

In the first game, the Cruisers jumped out to an early 4 -2 lead after one inning on the road. The inning was highlighted by a three-run homerun by David Garoutte.

The Cruisers kept the offense rolling in the top of the second, bringing 14 hitters total to the plate and pounding out seven hits and nine runs to take a commanding 13 to 2 lead. Eatonville scored on a Zach Smith homer for two runs and put the game away for the Cruisers. The home run was Smith’s second extra base hit on the day, adding to an earlier double.

Eatonville pitcher Andrew Wiklund also had a big day for the Cruisers, going 5-5 with two doubles and five RBI’s at the plate, while on the mound giving up just three hits and striking out ten over his four innings of work. When the dust finally settled, Eatonville had claimed a dominant 18-2 five-inning “mercy rule” victory over the Warriors.

On Wednesday Clover Park came to Eatonville for the second game of the series, and while still being held to only two runs, kept the game much closer, going all seven innings before the Warriors finally lost 11-2.

The Cruisers were down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning, when after one out Kekoa Visperas beat out an infield single then stole second and scored on a RBI single by Zach Smith to tie the game. Smith advanced to second on the throw home and stole third base, then scored on a double by Braden Henricksen to give Eatonville the lead.

The Cruisers would go on to score four more times in the third to extend the lead to 7-2. Eatonville’s offense was lead by Wade Wikander, going 3-4 with two doubles on the day. On the mound Smith came on in relief in the top of the third to shut out the Warriors, not allowing a run while striking out six in four innings of work.

Mike Moeller is Eatonville's head coach.