Cruiser Baseball riding high into SPSL playoffs

Riding a two-game win streak, the Cruisers looked to extend it as they took on the Washington High School Patriots on Tuesday, April 23.

Jarod Humphrey was an RBI machine during the day, driving in four on two hits led the Cruiser past the Patriots 23-3. Humphrey drove in runs on a single in the second, a triple in the third and a walk in the third.  

The Cruisers scored 12 runs in the third inning. The big inning was thanks to walks by Zack Smith, Andrew Wiklund, Humphrey and Josh Kondra, singles by Brandon Storm, Jakob Lucht, Caden Jumper and Ryan Rogers, an error on a ball put in play by Blain Hanley and Jumper, and a triple by Humphrey.

Andrew Wiklund started the game for the Cruisers. He surrendered three runs on one hit over two innings, striking out five. Blain Hanley got the win for Eatonville. He allowed one hit and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking zero. Ryan Rogers threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. 

Summary: Eatonville vs. Washington 23-3 W WP: B. Hanley (2IP, 0R, 1H. 0BB, 2K) Z. Smith 2-4, 2B, 4R, 1 RBI / J. Humphrey 2-4, 3B, 3R, 4RBI / J. Lucht 2-3, 2R, 1RBI / B. Hanley 2-5, 2R / B. Storm 2-3, 2R, 1RBI / A. Wiklund 1-2, 2R / J. Kondra 1-1, 2B, 3R, 3RBI / C. Jumper 1-2, 2B, 2R, 3RBI

The following day, the Cruisers would take on the Patriots again but this time it was a completely different game.

With the Cruisers trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the last inning, Hanley and Storm would both walk to start off the inning. Smith would follow those walks with a sharp single to left to load the bases. 

With no outs, Wiklund stepped to the plate. After fouling off a few pitches, he took the 2-2 pitch deep to centerfield for a double and the walk off victory.

The Cruisers would took the win, 4-3.

Smith picked up the win on the mound for the Cruisers in relief. 

Summary: Eatonville vs. Washington 4-3 W WP: Z. Smith (2IP, 2R, 0H, 2BB, 3K) A. Wiklund 2-4, 2B, 3RBI / Z. Smith 2-4, 1R, 1RBII / J. Humphrey 1-3 / J. Lucht 1-3, 2B, 1R

The Cruisers earned the No. 8 seed into the South Puget Sound League tournament and drew the Highline Pirates in the first round of play. They picked up the win 8-1 to advance to the second round to face the No. 1 seed the Fife Trojans. 

The Cruisers had faced Fife earlier in the season and were shut out 4-0. They didn't fare any better this time and were defeated 12-0 to drop into the losers' bracket in the double elimination tournament. 

The Cruisers are schedule to take on No. 6 Renton on Tuesday, April 30.

Summary: Eatonville vs. Highline 8-0 W WP: A. Wiklund (7IP, 0R, 1H, 4BB, 7K) A. Wiklund 2-3, 2B, 3RBI / C. Jumper 2-3, 2B, 1R, 1RBI / Z. Smith 2-4, 1R / J. Humphrey 1-2, 1R, 1RBI / J. Kondra 1-3, 1R / B. Storm 1-3, 2R, 1RBI

Summary: Fife vs. Eatonville 12-0 LP: C. Blake (1.1IP, 5R, 5H, 1BB, 1K) The Cruisers would not record a hit in this game.