Overland Park ? Lawrence’s Outlaws had four players who knew that a loss Wednesday night would signal the end of their American Legion baseball careers.

With that harsh reality and an even more pressing 7-2, seventh-inning deficit staring them in the face, the recently-graduated high school players would have done anything to prolong their diamond time.

They did, too.

But a furious four-run rally in the top of the final inning wasn’t enough Wednesday as the Outlaws fell to the Olathe East Hawks, 7-6, at the Blue Valley District Athletic Complex, ending their summer season.

“That was almost the stuff stories are made of,” said a clearly disappointed Cameron Taylor, one of the four players who played a role in the final inning of their final game. “These guys played their guts out.”

Taylor, who singled in a run in the top of the seventh, joined Paul Houle, Daniel Dulin and Sheldon McGuire in seeing their final action in an Outlaw uniform.

Despite the seventh-inning rally that featured three hits, three walks and a hit batter, the game concluded when McGuire struck out on a full count.

But Lawrence’s best chance to tie the game also happened to come in McGuire’s last at bat. With one out and an Olathe East pitching staff that couldn’t find the plate, McGuire squared to bunt on a squeeze play with the bases loaded. He barely missed and Taylor was easily tagged out at the plate for the second out.

“Ultimately when the situation goes the way it did, you’re going to second-guess yourself,” said Outlaws coach Ryan Goodwin. “But if it works, you look like a genius.”

The Outlaws, who ended their season with a record of 15-25, definitely didn’t seem to need the late-inning heroics after they started hot for the second straight night.

But after taking an early 2-0 lead, Goodwin said his team became tight, which led to their second one-run loss in as many days at the American Legion AAA Zone 1 Tournament. Olathe East got to Outlaws pitcher Matt Lane for three runs in the second and never trailed again.

Despite another emotional loss during a season that Goodwin described as up and down, the Lawrence coach said there were plenty of fond memories.

“These kids were a joy to coach, they always played with heart, and there was no better example of that than tonight,” he said.

Olathe East Hawks 7, Lawrence Outlaws 6

Outlaws 110 000 4 6 9 3

Hawks 031 210 x 7 8 0

WPMichael Meyer. LPMatt Lane.

Outlaws highlights: David Arndt 2-for-4, RBI, run; Cameron Taylor 3-for-4, 2 RBIs; John Maynard 1-for-2, 2 runs.