Cruisers start baseball season

The Eatonville Cruisers baseball team opened its 2025 season Thursday night at the Puyallup Recreation Center, facing a tough challenge in the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles after their scheduled Wednesday opener against Vashon Island was rained out. The Eagles would shut out the Cruisers 24-0.

Eatonville struggled to contain a potent offensive display, facing a significant deficit early. In the bottom of the first inning, the Cruisers saw their opponent capitalize on a series of miscues and timely hits, leading to a substantial early lead. A hit batter, multiple walks, a grand slam, a single, a double, and an error contributed to a flurry of runs.

The Cruisers' difficulties continued in the second inning, as their opponent added to their advantage with a groundout, a single, and a double, further extending the lead. The third inning proved equally challenging, with the opponent scoring eight runs on six hits, including a double, a single, and another error.

Offensively, Eatonville managed to collect two hits. Brody Thirtyacre and Ethan Evans each recorded one hit for the Cruisers.

“Thursday night was a rough game. We challenged ourselves to take on a challenging team and we didn’t execute the way we had hoped,” said coach Doug Fillbach. “Regardless, the team kept fighting and we were able to string some hits together later in the game. We have lots of lessons to take away from the game.”

The Cruisers will have a light schedule this coming week as they play only one game. They hosted Montesano Bulldogs on Monday at Vessey Field in Montesano. 

“We’re excited to play our former league opponent, Montesano, this week and to begin league play the following week,” Fillbach said. “Despite the struggles Thursday night, I believe that we can bounce back and have a stronger showing. We have a lot of talented players with a few years of varsity experience now that I think can make a difference.”