Junior Cruiser Football Camp
--by Donny O'Brien
    The Junior Cruisers coaching staff will hold the 7th annual Junior Cruiser Football Camp starting Monday, July 22, through Friday, July 26, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Eatonville Mount Rainier Aerie Eagles Field. The camp is open to all boys and girls ages 7 to 15. This non-contact camp is for experienced players and the beginners who are interested in learning and working on the basic fundamental skills of the game. Junior Cruiser Alumni will be on hand to assist the younger players with drills and are welcome to attend.
    Campers should wear a t-shirt or jersey that covers their back, shorts or sweats, cleats and bring a water bottle. Parents are welcome and encouraged to stay and watch practices and if needed hold blocking dummies and assist in drills.
    The Junior Cruisers will be playing in a new league this season. The North Thurston County and Lakewood Lumberjack Football associations have combined and have added the Graham Braves, Orting Animals and Junior Cruisers to their schedules. Eatonville will field a fifth and sixth grade team in this league with hopes of a third fourth grade team to play in the North Puget Sound Youth Football League.
    For more information contact Donny O'Brien at 253-875-8902. 

It's official: KC Jones signs with big leagues
--by Donny O'Brien
    Eatonville High School class of 2002 graduate KC Jones has signed with the Minnesota Twins.  Jones, who had earlier in the year  signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Washington to play baseball, was drafted by the Twins in the Major League Baseball Association's new player draft on the June 4 in the 16th round.
    After the draft KC  had several options: He could go on to the UW, start college and play for the Huskies and wait three years to be eligible for the MLB draft; He could decide to go to a two year community college with a high profile baseball program, play baseball, start his education and be eligible to enter next years MLB draft; Or, he could negotiate with the Twins and sign and begin his professional career. His first two options would allow him to begin his education and play baseball at the risk of being hurt and never playing professional ball. KC's third option allowed him to train, develop and play baseball at a professional level, go to college on the MLB scholarship program (a bargaining tool used to get new players to sign), all while being protected by a contract, insurance policy and while beginning to vest time into a MLB retirement. If Jones uses his third option to its full scope, he gets his education and has a career in the sport he loves. A win-win situation for a young man just out of high school.
    In a conversation with Jones' mother, Diana, shortly after the draft and before his decision to turn professional she said, "This has been KC's dream since he was  little. He's worked so hard and made so many sacrifices to get to this point."         
    Summer baseball camps, winter clinics, Jones has spent most of his free time throughout high school preparing  himself in hopes of a shot at the big leagues. A little over three weeks ago that dream came true when he signed with the Twins. Jones has begun his professional career training in Florida at a Twins training facility.
   KC's Father Gregg said, "KC is doing fine in Florida.  He says he made the right choice over going to school. He's been there three weeks now and he loves it. He says, 'Its not bad playing ball and getting paid for it.' What a first job out of high school."
    What a first job indeed. It just goes to show that hard work and dedication do pay off. Even in a small town like Eatonville, big league dreams can come true.

Flames take 3rd 4th Girls' title
    With an 8-1 season record the EYSA Flames, coached by Forrest Coleman and Waylon Jumper, captured the 2002 EYSA Girls Softball Championship. Congratulations girls!

Soccer and football: current rundown
--by Donny O'Brien
Boys' Soccer:
    With the 2002 EHS soccer season in the books, all that's left to report are the post-season picks to the Nisqually All League Team.  EHS ended up having three players make the Nisqually League first team.  Those players were sophomore David Hamilton at forward and seniors Jake Olson at midfield and Luke Arthur as defender.  Senior Adam Billdt as defender was voted to the second team and senior Trevor Zachary was an honorable mention as defender. Arthur also made the Pierce County all-area team as a defender.
Girls' Soccer:
    EHS soccer coach Rollie Arthur has had a very good year. Both his girls' and boys' teams made the state playoffs.  Arthur will have roughly two months to assess what he learned from the spring camp before his girls resume practice.  Girls' practice begins on Mon., Aug. 26, at 3 p.m.
    "Our schedule is already set and they [our readers] can access it at www.eteamz.com/eatonvillegirls/ . Our first match is a jamboree at Franklin Pierce on Sat., Sept. 7. Last season we were the number one seed from our district and finished the season in sixth place at state. We have the potential to do better this coming season," said Arthur.
Football:
    EHS football coach George Fairhart and his backs, receivers and quarterbacks traveled to Bethel High School Sat., June 15. The Cruisers mixed it up with several of the areas AAA and AAAA high school football programs in a no line, touch football format. Eatonville did well on the day showing marked improvement since last week in the small school passing tourney. The Cruisers A squad went 3 for 4 on the day.

Girls' soccer sports camp
--by Donny O'Brien
    Eatonville High School girls' soccer coach Rollie Arthur is running a spring camp for next year's team. Several veteran and new players showed up for practices last week.
    Arthur had this to say about last week's practice and his look on this upcoming season: "We have 17 eighth-grade girls who have signed up to play soccer next fall.  Around 13 showed up for practices last week. Several of them can make the varsity team and contribute next season. We should be a good team and hopefully we can get further than we did last year (finished 6th in the state), and get to the final four. Injuries and luck will certainly play a factor like they did for the boys."
    Arthur's boys' team made it as far as the state tournament's "Sweet Sixteen" this season. It was the first time that both his girls and boys teams had made it to the state finals in the same school year.

"Pity the poor kids who grow up in a big city. They miss the little things that made growing up in a small town, ah, so wonderful."
~Tom Morrow