Decatur baseball heads to state for first time since 2015

It took every game possible in the bracket, but for the first time since 2015, the Decatur High School baseball team is going dancing after an 8-1 win over Kelso in the final game of the district tournament on May 17.

“It’s huge for us. We battled with Enumclaw, we battled with them all three times this year. They’re not used to losing and being behind. When they do, they sometimes get a little down. But our leadership is really good. That is what has gotten us to where we are,” Manager Chris Fox said.

The Gators scored seven runs in the first two innings against the Kelso Hilanders, and were in cruise control from the first inning forward.

“I’m probably sure everybody could sense it. That was a huge burden lifted off our shoulders. We played loose. It’s easy to be up when you are ahead and that’s what we got. It was a huge relief,” Fox said.

It’s an achievement that the senior class at Decatur has worked tirelessly for.

“To be a part of the build up and be a leader in that build up is a great feeling. We’ve had so much talent in the past and never been able to get over the hump. It feels great,” said senior Spencer Holloway.

Hunter Buol took the mound for Decatur, and in his previous two starts, he had struggled. Over his last two starts, he threw 7.2 innings and had a 9.39 ERA. But against the Hilanders, he responded.

“It was huge for Hunter… Hunter needs to be challenged sometimes. He’s tired. I’ve challenged him in the next week to take care of his arm. He’s our number one,” Fox said.

Decatur was the number two seed in the district tournament behind Gig Harbor, and after losing to Peninsula and beating Federal Way, the Gators first took on Enumclaw in a winner-to-state game.

The Gators and Hornets both played a little cat and mouse game with their starting pitching. Enumclaw didn’t start their University of Oregon commit Cooper Markham, while the Gators didn’t start their ace in Hunter Buol.

Instead, Broq Powlus was handed the ball by Fox, and Paxton Patterson took the mound for Enumclaw.

It was the third meeting for these two teams this season, with both teams taking a game on the road.

The first two innings were harmless for both starting pitchers, but after both offenses put up a two spot in the third, it was clear this game was going to be a battle.

The Hornets rode a four-run fifth inning that began with back-to-back walks from Powles. A pair of sacrifice flies scored the first two runs of the inning, followed by a triple from Thade Highfill and a double from Drew Francis, which put the Hornets on top 6-2.

Decatur’s bats were slow out of the gate, and until CJ Gatterson hit a two-run blast, the Gators looked dead in the water. Gatterson sent the first pitch he saw in the sixth deep to right center for his first homer of the postseason.

Enumclaw scored one run in the top of the seventh that proved to be the difference.

In the home half of the seventh, Decatur started the inning threatening the 7-4 lead. Spencer Holloway drove a double to right center and Fox sent Eric Havili (walk) home, and he was thrown out for a crucial first out at the plate.

The Gators went from the tying run on second to the tying run back at the plate with an out on the scoreboard. Dylan Reano singled home Holloway to cut the lead to one, 7-6.

“We’ve dealt with adversity. We know what it takes to come back from losses. We’ve fought and we’ve battled. There’s no team that can compete with us when we are at our best,” Holloway said.

Nate Gilmore, CJ Gatterson and Tyler Buol were rock steady in the middle of the Gator lineup against Kelso. The three combined to go 9-for-12 (Buol 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, Gilmore 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, Gatterson 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) in the win over Kelso.

“Nate adds a lot of value to this team. He’s done a spectacular job,” Fox said.

After hitting his biggest home run of his career just hours before, CJ Gatterson followed that performance with a 3-for-4 game against Kelso. The sophomore has shown an incredible prowess and presence at the plate.

“I have coaches that look at CJ, and when they find out he’s a sophomore, they can’t believe it. He’s grown up and he’s learning as he goes along. He’s got all the ability in the world. When he stays within himself, he is one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached,” Fox said.

Decatur was given the number eight seed in the state tournament and takes on ninth seeded North Thurston on May 24 up at Sherman Anderson Field in Mount Vernon. The winner of that game will play the winner of top-seeded Mount Vernon and the game played between O’Dea and Central Kitsap.

Decatur might have only lost five games all year, but a chip is starting to show on their shoulders.

“Nobody thought we were going to make it to state. They thought we were going to be first round exits. It definitely took a lot of perseverance,” CJ Gatterson said.