Decatur Golden Gators

2016 record: 7-13

Key losses: Talon Gyalog, Bryan Ponce, Tyler Swanson

Key Returners: Ben Ray (INF, OF), Dylan Lydell (INF, P), JV Magruder (INF, OF, P)

Coach: John Sugg (first year)

After narrowly missing the postseason in 2016 after regional and state appearances in 2014 and 2015, the Decatur Golden Gators come into the 2017 season with redemption in mind. The Gators lost their final three games, which eliminated them from playoff considerations. Decatur comes into the new season primed for success. John Sugg takes over the coaching duties for Korey Sites in 2017. Sugg served as Site’s assistant coach for the previous four seasons.

“We’ve created a real culture here from everyone who’s come through and played for and coached this team,” Sugg said. “I’m extremely proud to wear this uniform and lead such a great group of guys.”

With the help of Sugg, the Golden Gators have built a playoff caliber program for 2017 with a mix of veteran players and a very deep freshman class.

The strength of the Gators program in 2017 will be its returning pitching staff, featuring Mason Pirio, Michael Fitzpatrick, Dylan Lydell and JV Magruder.

Both Lydell and Magruder have assumed leadership rolls with the Golden Gators this season. The two said the team has the opportunity to thrive with Sugg at the helm of the program.

“This program takes a big step forward with John,” Lydell said. “He’s the best coach in the state. He knows baseball. This is his second language. We’re all just really excited to work with him.”

Decatur will look to establish an identity early on with its batting order.

Sugg said he anticipates roughly five spots in the batting order that will be open for competition in early spring.

The Gators have a quality junior varsity program, and the program is anticipating 10 new freshmen to enter the program.

It’ll be important for the Golden Gators to produce runs with their lineup this season. They were well below average last year with 103 runs scored, or roughly five runs per game.

Where Sugg is changing the mold at Decatur starts with appearance. This year both the junior varsity and varsity programs will wear identical uniforms.

Sugg said he wants every player at Decatur, regardless of level, to feel as though it’s one team, not two.

“Our freshman class is going to be really good this year,” Magruder said. “Especially as it carries out throughout the year, leaving this program in a good position for years to come.”

The biggest adjustment for Decatur will be the restructuring of teams within the North Puget Sound League.

With more teams in the league, each will have two games per week.

The league changes are good for pitchers, however, as starters will get more rest.

For a club like the Golden Gators, the extra rest could be the advantage Decatur needs to get back to the playoffs.

“Our pitching should hold out pretty well this year, compared to last year,” Magruder said. “We were having to bring up guys to pitch all the time, so the rest will help.”

The Golden Gators start their season in Ellensburg on March 11, then on to Shelton on March 13. They make their home debut against the Enumclaw Hornets March 15. Decatur will also host Peninsula on April 1 at Cheney Stadium.

Sugg said his veterans undoubtedly remember the feeling of being bounced from last year’s postseason.

“I tell my teams this every year: You want to play your best games at the end, and if somebody beats us in the very last game we play, and that’s our best game, then we just tip our hat and shake their hand,” Sugg said.