Senior Night Spotlights Three Lady Cruisers As Eatonville Heads To Districts

The Eatonville Lady Cruiser fastpitch team closed out a busy week with a hard-fought split against the Orting Cardinals and a tough road loss to the Steilacoom Sentinels, but the stretch will be remembered most for the celebration that happened before the first pitch of Tuesday's home game.

Eatonville Lady Cruiser seniors (from left) Kaitlyn Kenney, Amy Tozier and Aubree Mills pose for a photo during Senior Night festivities before Tuesday's home game against the Orting Cardinals. The three were honored by coaches, players and fans prior to first pitch. Photo: Heather Quirie

The week opened Monday in Steilacoom, where the Sentinels handed Eatonville a 6-2 defeat, snapping the Lady Cruisers' three-game winning streak. Steilacoom wasted no time, jumping on the Lady Cruisers with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Starter Josie Lavergne went one and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and five runs before Morgan Laird came on in relief. Laird settled in and was sharp the rest of the way, tossing four and one-third innings of scoreless ball, surrendering just three hits while striking out five. Eatonville managed three hits on the day, with Amy Tozier, Aubree Mills and Ryleigh Chopic each collecting one. Amy Tozier and Aubree Mills each drove in a run.

Tuesday brought Senior Night at home against the Orting Cardinals, and before a pitch was thrown, Eatonville paused to honor what made the evening truly special.

Coaches, players and fans gathered to celebrate three seniors: Kaitlyn Kenney, Amy Tozier and Aubree Mills.

Head Coach Jen Smith did not hold back when reflecting on the three players who have grown up in the Cruiser program.

"Our three seniors, Amy, Aubree and Kenney all started their Cruiser softball journeys oh so different," Smith said. "When I think of their growth through this sport as a coach, I couldn't be happier. Each of them have showed growth not only in the sport but in confidence, teamwork and the willingness to do whatever is needed to help, besides carrying the heavy bucket. All of them have played multiple positions throughout the years, with a willingness to help the team. These three seniors will be greatly missed on the Cruiser field but they will forever be a Cruiser and hold a piece of my heart."

The game itself was a run-filled affair that ultimately went to Orting, 20-11. But the Lady Cruisers put up a fight, collecting 13 hits and drawing eight walks. Tozier and Brooklynn Sullivan each went 3-for-4 on the night, while Chopic went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to anchor the middle of the lineup. Lilah Chapman added two hits and swiped two bases. Mills drew two walks, showing patience at the plate on her Senior Night.

With the game out of reach in the bottom of the seventh, it was Kenney who gave the home crowd its loudest moment of the night. With runners on base, the senior stepped in and lined a double that scored three runs, capping a five-run inning and giving the fans something to cheer about one last time on her home field. It was a fitting sendoff for a player who has given everything to the program.

The Lady Cruisers did not have to wait long for a chance at redemption against the Cardinals. With both teams needing to fill open spots in their schedules after opponents forfeited games, Eatonville and Orting met again Friday evening in Orting, and this time the Lady Cruisers came away with a 15-13 victory in another high-scoring affair.

Eatonville set the tone early, plating four runs in the top of the first. Allen capped the inning with a two-run home run to left field, and she was far from finished. Allen drove in five runs total on two hits, adding a two-RBI single in the fourth and a walk that scored a run in the third. It was the kind of performance that changes a game.

The Lady Cruisers broke it open with an eight-run fourth inning to take a 14-6 lead. Chapman delivered the biggest blow, singling in three runs from the leadoff spot. She finished 4-for-5 to lead the team. Kenney and Lavergne each added multiple hits, and Chopic drew three walks as Eatonville piled up 13 free passes as a team.

With the split against Orting, the Lady Cruisers finished the regular season tied with the Cardinals for third in the 2A SPSL League. Once the 2A Olympic League wraps up its regular season Monday, May 11, a seeding committee will meet to determine Eatonville's placement in the 2026 District 3 2A Softball Tournament. All signs point to the Lady Cruisers earning the No. 7 seed, and regardless of where they land, Eatonville will play its first tournament game Friday, May 15, at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.