Decatur baseball punches ticket to final four with dramatic quarterfinal victory

Published 10:41 am Monday, May 25, 2026

Even an Oscar winning screenwriter could not have written a script for what took place on Saturday, May 23.

After defeating Shorewood 8-6 earlier in the day, Decatur (21-3) capped off a memorable doubleheader with a thrilling 2-1 walk-off victory over Snohomish at Auburn High School. This earned them a spot in the Class 3A state semifinals and moved the Gators within two wins of the first state championship in school history.

“I think it’s a redemption a bit. But I also think that we’re the kind of team that doesn’t think about that,” Gator head coach Chris Fox said. “I think that we know we belong now.”

After their season ended in the state quarterfinals a season before, the fourth-seeded Gators found themselves in a similar position. What followed was a day full of power hitting, clutch defense, and ultimately one of the most dramatic victories in program history.

Thanks to a top 12 seed, the Gators began play in round two of the 3A state baseball playoffs at Auburn High School.

Decatur’s first opponent was 13-seeded Shorewood. The Gators wasted little time en route to another state quarterfinals performance. Trailing early against Shorewood, Decatur exploded for six runs in the second inning thanks to a two-run home run from CJ Gatterson and a grand slam by Ethan Flavel. The offensive outburst proved enough as the Gators held on for an 8-6 victory.

But the second game would be an entirely different challenge.

Decatur went on to face number five seeded Snohomish Panthers who beat Peninsula 2-0 earlier in the day.

And this quarterfinal matchup quickly turned into a classic postseason pitching duel.

Decatur starter Tyler Buol delivered the performance of his career. He threw a complete game while allowing just four hits and one unearned run. The junior struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

“This was by far the best game Tyler’s ever pitched, this was the game of his life” head coach Fox said. “He’s got heart, he’s got grit, he’s got control.”

But it wasn’t only Buol that was firing. Panthers’ pitcher Rider Walsh also held the Gators scoreless through six and two thirds.

Decatur’s defense was also holding down its own. In the top of the fifth, left fielder Landon Le made a diving catch to prevent extra bases before second baseman Juan Leal Coronado followed with a sliding stop to preserve the scoreless tie.

But the Panthers finally broke the deadlock in the sixth inning.

With a runner on third base and one out, Walsh hit a ground ball to shortstop Ethan Flavel. Flavel’s throw got away from first baseman Nate Gilmore which allowed the first run of the game to score.

Buol got out of the inning, and it was fast working after that. The Gators were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth and so were the Panthers in the top of the seventh.

Decatur entered its final at-bat trailing by one run with its season hanging in the balance.

Buol stared the rally himself with a leadoff single to center field. Two quick outs followed, leaving the Gators down to their final chance.

Then Landon Le delivered. The senior drove a deep fly ball over the head of left fielder Deyton Wheat for a double. That moved Buol to third and put the tying run just 90 feet away.

Snohomish responded with a pitching change, but Decatur’s confidence never wavered.

“We just have a belief. Put the ball in play and good things will happen,” Fox said. “To a man, this team doesn’t waver. They’re unwavering. They work hard. They believe in each other.”

With two outs and runners on second and third, Julian Boone hit a sharp ground ball to shortstop Chase Clark. Clark’s throw was not in time and Buol scored the tying run.

That brought Parker to the plate. “I was sitting fastball early,” Parker said. “Then I kind of changed into a two-strike approach and got a pitch I could drive.”

With the count 2-1, Parker lined a ground ball toward second base. Snohomish second baseman Landon Klein ranged to his left, but the ball slipped underneath his glove as Le crossed home plate with the winning run.

“It just means the world,” senior catcher Landen Parker said. “The adrenaline is so much. I’ve got my brothers, and I consider them just as much family as blood. I’m so grateful I could do that for not only the seniors, but everyone here.”

The crowd went crazy, the entire Gators team rushed the field, and coach Fox sat in the dugout reflecting on one of the biggest wins of his career.

“When you see that buy-in and you know the battles you’ve fought for the last three months, and then to see it take off like this, it’s emotional,” Fox said.

The Gators will face the red-hot 17th-seeded Eastside Catholic Crusaders on May 29 at Everett Memorial Stadium.