Lavergne’s arm, bat fuel Eatonville win as Lady Cruisers rebound against Washington

The Eatonville Lady Cruisers went 2-1 over a busy three-game stretch this past week, showing both offensive firepower and resilience in league play. The week included a runaway win over Franklin Pierce, a tough matchup with league leading Fife, and a road victory over Washington.

Eatonville pitcher Josie Lavergne delivers against the Franklin Pierce Cardinals in a game earlier this season. A two-way threat for the Lady Cruisers, Lavergne has been a force in the circle, striking out 10 over seven innings in a recent road win over Washington, while also contributing at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI double in that same contest as Eatonville fights for a playoff spot in the final weeks of league play. Photo: Heather Quirie

Eatonville opened the week Tuesday with a 16-5 win over Franklin Pierce, jumping on the Cardinals early and never letting up. The Cruisers set the tone in the first inning when Ryleigh Chopic doubled to left field to drive in a run, followed by RBI hits from Amy Tozier and a walk drawn by Aubree Mills that helped push across more runs. Eatonville kept adding pressure in the second inning as Tozier singled again, and the offense continued to stack at-bats and force mistakes.

Chopic delivered one of the standout performances of the week, finishing 4-for-4 with four RBIs. She drove in runs in three different innings, including a two-run double in the fourth that helped put the game out of reach. Eatonville’s offense stayed patient throughout, drawing 13 walks and consistently putting runners on base. Kailyn Kenney and Lucy Allen each reached base three times via walks, while Tozier, Morgan Laird, Chopic, and Allen all contributed multiple stolen bases. As a team, the Cruisers stole 11 bases, putting constant pressure on the defense.

In the circle, Josie Lavergne earned the win, working five innings while striking out seven. She allowed six hits and five runs, though only two were earned, as Eatonville’s defense worked through some early pressure and limited damage in key spots.

Two days later, the Cruisers faced a major test against league-leading Fife and fell 15-5 on Thursday. Fife came out aggressively at the plate and built momentum early, scoring in each of the first three innings to take control of the game. Eatonville struggled to slow the Trojans’ lineup, which consistently put the ball in play and capitalized on opportunities.

Fife’s early scoring surge included a strong second inning that widened the gap, and the Trojans continued to extend their lead with timely hitting throughout the lineup. Eatonville fought to respond but could not fully match the pace offensively.

The Cruisers did have some bright spots at the plate. Aubree Mills led the offense with two RBIs and finished 1-for-3, while Allen, Tozier, Kenney, Chopic, and Mills each recorded a hit. Even as the scoreboard tilted in Fife’s favor, Eatonville continued to compete at the plate and look for opportunities to manufacture runs.

Lavergne took the loss, pitching into the fifth inning and facing a high-volume Fife attack that finished with 20 hits. She struck out two and walked three in a challenging outing against one of the league’s most productive offenses.

Eatonville responded well the next day, bouncing back Friday with an 8-4 road win over Washington. The Cruisers set the tone early, scoring in the first inning when Kaitlyn Kenney reached base and later came around to score on a passed ball. That early run helped Eatonville settle into the game and establish control.

The offense continued to build steadily. In the second inning, Morgan Laird scored on a single from Lilah Chapman, and in the third inning Chopic crossed home after a dropped third strike allowed her to advance. Those small-ball opportunities helped the Cruisers maintain a steady edge before breaking things open late.

The defining moment came in the seventh inning when Eatonville delivered its biggest offensive burst of the week. The Cruisers scored five runs on four hits, highlighted by clutch at-bats from the middle of the lineup. Tozier singled in a run, Lavergne helped her own cause with an RBI double, Brooklynn Sullivan added a two-run single, and Chapman capped the inning with another RBI hit. The late surge turned a close game into a comfortable finish.

Lavergne delivered a strong performance in the circle, striking out 10 over seven innings while allowing 10 hits and four runs. She worked through traffic throughout the game but consistently limited damage and finished strong. Eatonville also played clean defensively, committing no errors in a steady fielding performance behind her.

The Cruisers finished with 12 hits in the game, led by Lavergne, Chapman, and Tozier, who each had three hits. Chapman went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while several Eatonville players contributed on the bases as well. Lavergne, Laird, and Leah Briggs each stole multiple bases as the Cruisers totaled 11 stolen bases in the win, continuing a trend of aggressive base running that has defined their offense this season.

With the week complete, Eatonville sits just a half-game behind Orting in the battle for third place in league standings. With five games remaining, the Lady Cruisers remain in position to climb the standings, and this week’s results kept them firmly in the playoff conversation.

Eatonville will look to carry momentum into a busy stretch ahead, finishing its two-game series with Washington on Tuesday before opening another two-game set against second-place Steilacoom on Thursday.