Decatur’s undefeated baseball season continues after sweep of TJ

Published 3:45 pm Tuesday, March 31, 2026

The Decatur Gators’ (7-0) undefeated start to the 2026 baseball season continues as they handled Thomas Jefferson High School (3-4) 10-1 on March 30.

It was business as usual so far for Decatur as Tyler Buol took to the mound once again and went 5 innings, scattered two hits and didn’t allow a run. He threw just 77 pitches through those five innings. Nate Gilmore finished the game, throwing two innings; he didn’t allow a hit and the lone Raider run was unearned.

Decatur totaled nine hits in the game, but for the most part the Decatur bats were held in check. It’s just the second time all season where Decatur has only registered one or fewer extra base hits, the other instance being their 8-1 win over Kentlake on March 18. Juan Leal’s third inning double was the only extra base hit of the day for Decatur of their nine total base hits.

It felt like death by a thousand cuts for Thomas Jefferson, pitching wise. Decatur scored one in the first, two in the second, one in the third, two in the fifth and four in the seventh inning. But the Raider bats could not get rolling as Buol induced soft contact all afternoon. Kingston Edwards’ single in the first was the only Raider hit until the bottom of the fifth when Joel Ramirez singled for the final Raider hit of the afternoon.

The Raiders used four different pitchers in the loss against Decatur. Ikaika Frank got the start and went just three innings, gave up four hits and three runs (two were earned). Loimata Matua was the first arm out of Harold Adams’ bullpen, and he went one inning and allowed three runs to score. Jesus Renteria-Guillen went two innings and allowed five runs. Jordan Ardoin also threw one inning and was the only Raider pitcher to not allow a run.

Thomas Jefferson takes on Auburn on April 3 at home and Decatur has a break until April 10 against Peninsula on the road.