The Wright City Wildcats experienced a resurgence in Ryan Raterman’s five years at the helm of the Wright City baseball program. After coaching the Wildcats for the past five years and four seasons, Raterman recently announced he is leaving Wright City to take a teaching position at Parkway South High School. Raterman cited the proximity of Parkway South to his home as a major factor in the decision. Parkway South is four minutes away from his house in Manchester. “I always preach family,” Raterman said. “Our conference away games are about an hour and a half on a bus. And then it’s a 45 minute drive home. This is going to not only change my life in regards to a career in a bigger school district, but just the amount of time I will have with my family is going to be astronomical and I’m looking forward to it.” Raterman leaves Wright City after leading the Wildcats to a .590 winning percentage and two conference titles. They also placed second in their district for two of those seasons. Prior to Raterman’s tenure, Wright City struggled the previous two seasons. They went a combined 12-30 in 2017 and 2018. Raterman said in his first year at the helm of the program in 2019, he was the fourth coach in four years for the Wildcat baseball program. Raterman’s focus was bringing a winning culture he was used to in his stints as an assistant coach at Francis Howell and Christian Brothers College High School. “I think it was just creating the culture and bringing a winning culture because I was at those two bigger schools,” Raterman said. “I wanted them to buy in because at the time they weren’t use to winning. That was kind of all I ever knew. And so getting them to buy in and showing them that I cared and showing them what it takes to be a winner.” After recording a winning season with a record of 13-11 in Raterman’s first year at the helm of the program, Wright City, like all schools in the state and around the country, did not compete in the spring 2020 season because of COVID-19. After the one year hiatus, the Wildcats recorded back to back 15-win seasons and district championship appearances. The Wildcats finished this season with a 15-8 record, which was Wright City’s best winning percentage in Raterman’s tenure. “As a head, I’ve never had a losing season,” Raterman said. We’ve always finished in the top two of conference…We’ve had multiple kids go play college baseball. We’ve had multiple all-state athletes. This year, we set the all-time stolen base record of third all time of 254 stolen bases. I think that we’ve had a lot of good players and we’ve been successful.” Despite all the on-field success Wright City experienced over the last five years, Raterman is most proud of getting players to the next level. He also is proud of his former players who are now great husbands, fathers and community members. “I preach that at the very beginning of the year every single year. It’s more than just winning ball games,” Raterman said. “My job is to turn them into better human beings. And I think that with building this culture, it’s truly a family.” Even though he is a Warrenton High School graduate, Raterman stressed he bleeds Wright City blue and gold. While coaching Wright City, Raterman wanted to beat Warrenton “just as bad as I wanted to beat any other team.” Raterman was thankful for the opportunity and trust the Wright City staff and community gave him to coach the Wright City baseball athletes over the past five years. “It’s bittersweet,” Raterman said. “I’m not going to lie. It was a tough decision. But it was one I had to make for my family. And I’d like to think they would appreciate that and know that.” Raterman will start his teaching job at Parkway South in the upcoming school year. He said his baseball coaching plans are undetermined at this time.