Baseball: Cruisers hopes dashed at district tournament

After a surge in the final weeks of the regular season, the Eatonville Cruiser baseball team entered the district tournament with high hopes of clinching a coveted spot in the state championships. The Cruisers’ dreams were dashed, however, as they suffered consecutive losses, resulting in an early elimination from the tournament.

Hopes were high as the Cruisers arrived at Castle Rock baseball field for their first game of the tournament when they faced off against the reigning 1A SWW District 4 champions, the La Center Wildcats. Eatonville struck first and scored in the top of the first inning on a Cooper Field double that brought home Michael Stogsdill for a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, the Wildcats tied up the score. The Cruisers could not overcome the Wildcats' relentless offense, and they fell 19-1 and dropped into the consolation bracket.

The Cruisers regrouped to compete against the King’s Way Christian Knights. A win was necessary to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Knights scored five runs in the top of the first inning, while Eatonville mustered only two runs in the game, and the Knights coasted to a 19-2 victory, eliminating Eatonville from the tournament and ending the Cruisers’ season.

Head coach Doug Fillbach, though disappointed with the outcome, was proud of his team’s journey this season.

“I want to commend our team for their perseverance and resilience throughout a challenging season,” he said. “Taking over after a long-time head coach is no easy task, and I am proud of the way our players embraced the change and gave their all on the field. We are a young team, and I'm excited to improve and continue to grow with these guys.”