Chapman Helps Lead Lady Cruisers to Dominant Week, Eatonville Outscores Opponents 25-3

Lilah Chapman had a great week for the Eatonville Lady Cruiser fastpitch team, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and two singles to help power the Lady Cruisers to a pair of wins and solidify their standing in second place in the league standings.

The Lady Cruiser dugout watches as Lilah Chapman works an at-bat against Fife earlier this season. Chapman carried that same approach into this week, delivering three hits in three plate appearances to help Eatonville outscore its opponents 25-3 across two wins. Photo: Heather Quirie

Chapman was at the center of nearly every big moment Tuesday as Eatonville ran away from Washington 19-0 in five innings. She doubled in the second inning to kick off a seven-run frame, then singled twice during an eight-run third inning that put the game completely out of reach. Each time Chapman stepped to the plate, she delivered, finishing with multiple RBI and providing the kind of consistent production that Eatonville needed from top to bottom in the lineup.

The Lady Cruisers got on the board quickly, with Amy Tozier delivering a run-scoring double in the bottom of the first inning. The real damage came in the second, when Chapman's double sparked the rally. Kaitlyn Kenney drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run, Ryleigh Chopic singled to drive in three more, and Josie Lavergne capped the frame with a two-run sacrifice fly to push the lead to 8-0.

Chapman kept it going in the third, singling to score a run early in the inning before coming back up to the plate later in the frame and delivering again with another RBI single. It was that kind of relentless at-bat approach that defined her day. Kenney, Lavergne, Aubree Mills, Morgan Laird and Brooklynn Sullivan all contributed RBI in the inning as well, completing the offensive outburst.

Eatonville finished with 13 hits on the day, with Chapman, Sullivan and Chopic each collecting multiple hits. Tozier led the club with three walks as the Lady Cruisers drew seven free passes as a team, showing strong discipline at the plate throughout the game.

On the mound, Lavergne was dominant, tossing five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out nine batters. She walked just one and never allowed Washington to threaten, giving Eatonville a complete performance on both sides of the ball.

Two days later Thursday, with Chapman's big Tuesday providing a spark for the entire lineup, the Lady Cruisers carried that momentum into a 6-3 victory over Steilacoom in a more competitive contest.

Eatonville fell behind 1-0 after the opposition connected on a solo home run to center field in the top of the first. The Lady Cruisers responded immediately. Lavergne singled to left field in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one, and Eatonville took control for good in the second. Kenney grounded out to score a run, and Chopic followed with a two-run double to push the advantage to 4-1 and put Steilacoom on the defensive.

The Lady Cruisers added another run in the fifth when Tozier launched a solo home run to left field, her second big hit of the week, to extend the lead to 5-1. Steilacoom added two more runs late but could never seriously threaten, and Eatonville closed it out 6-3.

Kenney and Chopic were particularly productive from back-to-back spots in the lineup, each driving in two runs to pace the offense. Nohea Uhls, Lavergne, Lucy Allen, Tozier, Kenney, Laird, Sullivan and Chopic each recorded a hit for Eatonville, as the Lady Cruisers once again got contributions up and down the order.

Lavergne was again the story in the circle, going the distance over seven innings and allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out three and walking two to pick up her second win of the week. Her ability to take the ball in both games and deliver quality starts gave the Lady Cruisers exactly what they needed.

The two victories, including the win over Steilacoom that allowed Eatonville to jump the Sentinels in the standings, pushed the Lady Cruisers into second place in league play heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Lady Cruisers will finish out their two-game series against Steilacoom on Monday before returning home Tuesday for Senior Night against the Orting Cardinals to close out the regular season.