Eatonville's Rath hits five home runs to start season

Western Washington University signee Hailey Rath hit five home runs last week and helped power the Cruisers to a 2-1 record as they opened up their 2022 season this past week.

On Wednesday, the Cruisers hosted the 4A Graham-Kapowsin Eagles in a non-league matchup.

The Eagles took an early 4-1 until the third inning when the Cruisers fought back and tied the game up.

Eatonville took the lead in the fourth inning when they pushed four runs across to lead 8-4, but the Eagles matched those runs with four of their own in the top half of the fifth.

Rath broke that tie when she took a 1-1 pitch deep for her first home run of the season and gave the Cruisers a 9-8 lead.

That lead didn't last as the Eagles scored six runs in the top of the sixth and then another four in the top of the seventh to hand the Cruisers an opening day 18-12 loss.

Sara Smith led the Cruisers going 3-for-5 with a double and driving in four runs. Berkeley Porter also went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs.

Looking to rebound from that loss, the Cruisers hopped on the ferry and headed to Vashon Island to take on the Vashon Pirates.

Eatonville put the game away early, scoring four runs in the first inning. That was all they needed as they cruised to a 26-0 mercy-rule shortened game.

Rath hit two home runs on the day, going 4-5 with two home runs and a double and drove in 10 runs.  Smith continued her hot hitting going 3-5 with a home run and three runs driven in.

Eatonville finished off its week with a trip to Belfair, Washington, to take on the North Mason Bulldogs.

Again, the potent Cruiser offense struck and was no match for the Bulldogs as Eatonville took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back as they defeated North Mason 19-1 in another mercy-rule shortened game.

Brook Blocker led the Cruisers, going 4-5 with two home runs and six RBIs. Rath hit two home runs in the game, as well, and went 3-5 and drove in four runs.

The Cruisers will have a short break before hosting the Vashon Pirates at 4 p.m. Friday.