Decatur fastpitch downs Federal Way

The last time the Decatur High School softball team took the field was in a 24-19 barn-burner that had 30 combined hits and 16 combined errors, resulting in a loss to Thomas Jefferson High School on May 5.

The aftermath of that game resulted in the Gators washing themselves clean as they prepared for Federal Way on May 7, which was also senior night.

“We physically washed it away and had a pool party right after. We were trying to literally get it out of our minds and wash it away. We definitely answered back with this game. I don’t think we will be seeing another game like that,” Head Coach Sydney Kozorezov said.

Decatur has six seniors, and for Kozorezov, who is in her first season at the helm, this group is immensely important for her.

“I’ve seen these girls since freshman year whether it was head coach or volunteer assistant. I am super excited to celebrate them well and hopefully I don’t cry,” she said with a laugh.

The Gators bounced back with an impressive 18-8 win over Federal Way as the Gators’ record improved to 9-7 this season as they sit in fourth place in the 3A NPSL.

“We all needed to come together and reset to play our hardest. This is the team we are, not the team the other day,” said Audrey Deviney

Decatur was led by Deviney as she just mashed at the plate in her final home game of her career. At the plate, she went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Decatur jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings which saw Samantha Hackney hit a two-run homer on the first pitch of her second at-bat.

The Federal Way offense from the third inning on made Deviney work as they would score runs from the third inning until the sixth inning.

Senior Kahea Sharpe went just 1-for-1, but reached base five times as she was walked twice and hit by a pitch three times. Each time she was on base, she recorded a run scored. From Hackney’s homer to Deviney’s dominance at the plate and Sharpe’s ability to get on base, the Decatur seniors all made an impact in the win over Federal Way and showed how close the girls are.

“We have grown up together, we have played Little League together all these years. It’ll be super sad to go,” Deviney said.

Decatur entered the sixth with the lead 13-4, a single run away from a mercy rule. But the Eagles battled and even threatened the Decatur lead. In the sixth, Federal Way sent nine batters to the plate and scratched eight runs across. Meeghan Meagher tripled to start the inning, and two batters later, Serena Sailiai tripled as well.

The Gators went from being up by nine to just up by five, and Federal Way had built some serious momentum.

But in the home half of the sixth inning, Decatur’s offense put up six runs on five hits, and four runs came across with two outs in the sixth.

Luci Pech singled home Lila Berg for the inning’s first runs, and Deviney doubled home a run with one out. Valentina Ruiz-Castro recorded her second hit of the night, scoring Rylee Griffith. The walk-off hit came from Jordyn Davis-Thompson on an 0-2 pitch and she singled to left field.

“I think we are all coming together and stringing together base hits. That will help us succeed in the playoffs,” Deviney said.

Decatur has one final regular season game against Auburn Mountainview on the road. The Gators fell 8-0 last time out back on April 17. This time around, the Gators are hoping to give the second place Lions a better shot.

“I know we have made a lot of adjustments and improved a whole lot with our defense and offense. I think it will be a good game to set us up for the playoffs,” Kozorezov said.