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Dispatch 04012026

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April 1, 2026

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ISSUE 14

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No-Hitter and Big Bats Power Eatonville to 3-Game Streak By Skip Smith

HEATHER QUIRIE

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he Eatonville Cruiser baseball team has found their rhythm early in the season, turning a rain delayed start to the season into a three-game winning streak with a series of dominant and timely performances. Eatonville opened with a 10-0 victory over Foss in its home opener, followed with a 17-0 rout highlighted by a no-hitter from Ryder Herbrand, and capped the week with an 11-4 win over Lakes on Friday. “I was proud of the guys for swinging the bats,” Eatonville head coach Doug Fillbach said. “We struggled to get our bats going against North Mason, but against Foss, we attacked the ball like we envisioned our team doing.” In Monday’s home opener, the Cruisers set the tone early. Landen Davis drew a basesloaded walk in the second inning to bring home the first run, and Eatonville added on in the third by capitalizing on defensive miscues and a hit batter. “Unfortunately, to begin with, we were hitting the ball right at guys,” Fillbach said. “But if you do that enough, the ball ends up finding a way through, and we started scoring runs.” Ben Smith made sure the early lead held. The right-hander tossed six shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out nine and walking two. “Ben also had a great game, throwing lots of strikes and letting our defense work behind him,” Fillbach said. “Allowing only two hits and our defense behind him committing no errors.” Eatonville’s aggressive approach on the base paths stood out, as the Cruisers piled up 11 stolen bases while playing error-free defense behind Smith.

Ryder Herbrand connects on a pitch during Eatonville’s matchup against Foss on Monday. The left-hander later delivered a standout performance against the Falcons, tossing a five-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts while allowing four walks. If the opener set the tone, Wednesday’s game put the Cruisers on full display. Eatonville erupted for 12 runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 17-0 win. Santiago Ruvalcaba and

Coleson Simpson each delivered key extra-base hits in the inning, while Colton Herbrand capped the rally with a two-run double as the Cruisers built a commanding lead.

The offense continued to add on, but the story belonged to Ryder Herbrand on the mound.

NO-HITTER, 3

Eatonville Special Olympics Athletes Earn Medals at State, Regionals By Skip Smith

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TIMA SCHMIDT

The Eatonville High School Special Olympics basketball team poses for a photo with EHS volunteer Cody Jumper as they proudly show off their medals they won.

he Eatonville Special Olympics program celebrated a weekend of impressive accomplishments as athletes from Eatonville Elementary School and Eatonville High School competed in regional and state events. Sophia Roberts and Wyatt Duncan of Eatonville Elementary School represented their school at the Washington State Special Olympics Winter Games in Wenatchee from February 27 through March 1. Roberts earned a silver medal in Individual Basketball Skills while Duncan captured a bronze medal, marking outstanding performances for both young athletes. At the high school level, the Eatonville High School Special Olympics Basketball Team competed at the regional level. The team, which includes Ayden Hildebrand, Christian Stacy, and Kaydin Pine, earned a silver medal for their efforts. While the team did not advance to the state competition, their dedication and teamwork drew praise from coaches and community members.

t was a high-octane week for Eatonville athletics as programs across campus secured significant victories and gained valuable league experience. The track and field teams set a powerful tone by opening 2A SPSL competition with a dominant performance at Clover Park High School, where both the boys and girls squads claimed first place overall against Clover Park and Foss. On the boys’ side, Rogue Pound led the charge with victories in the 110-meter hurdles and the long jump, while Landon Austin captured first in the 300-meter hurdles.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS, 3

SPORTS SHORTS, 3

Track & Field Sweeps while Softball and Tennis Notch Big Wins By Skip Smith

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