The Decatur Gators finally got in the win column, thanks to a solid outing pitching from 6-3 senior captain, Justin Reed, who got a good run of support to his credit too, especially from hitter Justin MacDonald -- knocking one out of the park in a 10-4 win over visiting foe Kentwood Tuesday.

The Gators moved to 1-3 in the South Puget Sound League North while the Conquerors dropped to 1-3.

This game was mostly good from Reed. He went six innings, gave up four runs on five hits and struck out five. The only glaring number was walks -- six, but assistant coach Nick Hasbrook mentioned that to Reed after the game. Reed acknowledged his coach's words and left the field in agreement. But one little, itty, bitty bit of bad there does not excuse the fact that he spread those walks out over six good innings and nothing, of note, came back to haunt him. His team's 11 hits had something to do with that, but Reed's effort led the show.

"He was a our bulldog today," said Hasbrook, filling in for head coach Justyn Scholze's absence.

He threw 110 pitches today. He did tell me he wanted to finish, but I told him he couldn't pitch anymore. Too many pitches for a high school kid."

Reed started off the game allowing a single and a double for the Conks' first run to lead the Gators to a 1-0 lead early in the top of the first inning.

Then, in the bottom of the first, Kyle Font drew a walk to lead things off, then scored on a wild pitch after CJ Andrews had moved Font along with a single to make it 1-1.

Kentwood again scored in the top of the second. A home run, cheapened by the ball glancing off the Gator center fielder's glove. But it still counted of course, and it was 2-1 Conks.

Showing a real mettle in this game, including a fire in the dugout with guys standing the whole game and shouting to teammates up to bat, the Gators came back again, this time tying it and then some. Starting off the bottom of two, the Gators got a walk from Greg Bull, also a state wrestler for the Gators. Then Font singled to load the bases. Next was Andrews drawing a walk, forcing in Bull to make it 2-2. Then Alex Bailey blasted a two-run double to the outfield gap to make it 4-2 Gators.

"They came through when we needed them," said Hasbrook.

The next inning Kentwood brought on its patterned one-run of offense that was their mantra in this game, coming off two Reed walks and a fielder's choice that led to that one-more Conks run. That was the only run from Reed's '"walking," that hurt his base on ball numbers all game long.

But it definitely would not hurt him, because, ahead 4-3, then, the Gators would score three more in the bottom of the third. Brendon Kurle would lead off with a walk drawn before Bull would, one out later, reach base on a bad-hop sizzling single that jumped over the shortstop's glove. Then a Conner McFaul seeing-eye single blooped into short leftfield to set up a Font RBI-single next to make it 5-3, Gators. Then a big blow came from Gavin Cuddie, with a two-RBI shot dropping into shallow right field that made it 7-3.

"That's what I have preached to them," said Hasbrook. "With runners on base, do your job."

The Gators then came back in the bottom of the fourth , following a 1,2,3 out Reed inning pitching. First it was Reed with a big double that nearly got over the fence. It got to the fence before hitting dirt. Then, Reed's battery mate, catcher Brendon Kurle, followed in workmanlike fashion, smashing the ball through the left side of the infield. After a double steal, it was MacDonald up to the plate. The double steal would just turn out to be stat padding for Kurle and Reed as MacDonald made no doubt that where Reed and Kurle stood on the basepaths would make no difference at all. That so because MacDonald would then crush a pitch over the center field fence to the deepest part of the ballpark, around 330 feet from home plate.

"His first home run of the season," said Hasbrook. It was a good mark of insurance there and that would be more than enough of an insurmountable lead for the Conks to come back from in this one.

Reed sees this team's first win as a cornerstone for turning the corner.

"Yeah, things are starting to come together," said Reed.

They are. The Gators have been knocking on victory's door, having lost some close games in their first league contests. They lost 5-2 to Kentlake, and, 5-2 to Kentridge, close scores to likely teams in the playoff hunt when the season ends. Kentlake is undefeated thus far, 4-0 in league. TJ is second, to note, 3-1 snd Kentridge is 2-2.

On record, Reed noted their are a good group of leaders on this team, himself included.

"We try to set an example for the younger guys," said Reed. "It's great to bring the team together to fight through the tough times. We're getting through it. That is what leadership does."

Besides MacDonald, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI, Font was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, Andrews was 2-for-3 with one run scored and Bailey was 1-for-4 with two RBI.