Just once, Lawrence Raiders coach Carl Brooks would like to win the zone tournament with solid pitching and defense instead of hoping the offense scores oodles of runs.

Not that Brooks much cares how his team wins, but for the last two zone tournaments, the 18-under American Legion baseball team has lost early in the tournament, then worked its way through the loser’s bracket by pouncing on opponents.

“Our bats come alive and it carries us all the way through the tournament. We’ve won the last two zones by swinging the bat,” Brooks said. “Sometimes you can do that.”

Lawrence, which plays host to the AAA Zone II Tournament this week at Free State High, has been as hot on offense as last week’s temperatures. That’s typical for this team.

Last year, after losing 6-3 to Olathe East, Lawrence won its next three games, 11-1, 15-0 and 2-1, the final victory coming in the championship against Manhattan. This year’s version features the same explosive offense, and, unfortunately, only one dominant pitcher.

Raiders ace Aaron Madill (9-1) is approaching the team record for innings pitched, set by last year’s ace, Eric Peterson, who’s headed to Kansas University. Madill isn’t overpowering, but Brooks says the righty doesn’t waste any pitches and refuses to walk batters. With him on the mound, Brooks hopes he already knows the game’s outcome.

“He’s been our stopper all year,” Brooks said. “We expect to win when he’s on the mound.”

Madill gets the start today against Olathe North. The first pitch is slated for 8:30 p.m. at the FSHS field. The catch is, the Raiders’ Nos. 2 and 3 pitchers, Blake Dickson and Nate Burman, injured themselves last week and won’t play in zone.

“That’s going to be a really big problem,” Brooks said. “Now we’re really going to have to scramble.”

Troy Wingert, who has only pitched 10 1/3 innings this season, is penciled in as Wednesday’s starter. If Lawrence reaches Friday’s finals without a loss, Mike Morrell is the likely starter. Though neither player has thrown extensively this season  of the 14 roster players, 12 have spent time on the mound  Brooks says if the offense continues its torrid hitting, the Raiders should come through as zone champs again.

That won’t be enough for Madill. He was part of Lawrence High’s state-bound squad last spring, and was with the Raiders for their trip to the state tournament last year. Now he’s ready to win it all.

“I’m tired of going to all these state tournaments and not coming home with a trophy,” Madill said. “We have the arms to get through the tournament if we do everything right.”

He might be right. Lawrence, 27-17 overall, is hitting .363. All but two players bat better than .300, led by Derek Bailey (.468) and Wingert (.442). Wingert’s 36 RBIs tops the team, but four other players have more than 30 RBIs, and three others have more than 20. That balance comforts Brooks, as does his team’s mindset.

They may not be the top seed  that’s 21-12 Shawnee Mission West KC Ice Cream  but Brooks says the Raiders’ schedule has prepped them for far tougher foes.

“Nobody’s gonna come into Free State and be as good as some of the teams we’ve played this year,” Brooks said.

If he’s right, Lawrence might be looking a return trip to state.