If Lawrence High plans a return trip to state, its road to the postseason baseball tournament will be a longer one.

The Lions thrived at Class 6A state at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark the past two years, winning the title in 2000 and placing third in 2001. Maize High School Sports Complex, near Wichita, is the host site for the 2002 state tournament.

With 14 players back from last year’s 16-9 squad, the Lions appear to have the manpower to reach state for the third year in a row.

“I think we exceeded a lot of peoples’ expectations by finishing third,” said LHS coach David Petry, who has compiled a 38-11 record in two years at his alma mater. “We’re coming into this season with a lot of expectations on us, but that’s the way I would like to have it every year. I want this program to expect to be in the state tournament every year.”

Petry has 18 players on his roster, including a whopping 11 seniors.

“The strength of this team is going to be its experience,” said Petry, whose team lost by one run in last year’s state semifinals to eventual state champion Derby.

LHS is also experienced on the mound with juniors Ryan Rowland and Taylor Martin back. Rowland finished 4-3 last year while making a team-high nine starts. Martin finished with a 3-1 record.

“They’re juniors, but they have as much as experience as a lot of seniors,” said Petry, whose squad will open with a single game on Thursday against Olathe North in Olathe. “I think we’ll have as many as eight kids on varsity throwing.”

Lawrence’s projected defensive lineup for the opener is Troy Wingert, catcher; Andy Flory, first base; Daniel Dulin or Kyle McManness, second base; Chris Johnson, shortstop; Tommy Mangino, third base; Derek Bailey, left field; Rob Scott, center field; and either Mike Morrell or Joe Bell in right field.

Bailey, Bell, Scott and Flory all hit better than .300 last season. Scott, Wingert (an Allen County Community College signee) and Johnson have been key players for LHS since their sophomore season.

Mangino transferred to LHS from Norman (Okla.) North High during the winter break. His father, Mark, is the new KU football coach.

“He’s blended in real nicely with the returning kids,” Petry said of Mangino. “He looks good defensively at third base. He has a fairly strong and accurate arm. I think his love is to catch, but we’re already three-deep at catcher (with Wingert, Cameron Taylor and Paul Houle).

The Lions’ schedule has a new twist. Rather than play the customary 10 twinbills to complete the 20-game regular-season schedule, LHS has 17 dates to play 20 games. Other than doubleheaders against Shawnee Heights (April 6) and Leavenworth (May 3), LHS will play opponents just once. LHS will play both Lee’s Summit (Mo.) and Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North on March 30 in Lee’s Summit. LHS also will help FSHS play host to the three-day River City Festival next month.

Petry is pumped about the new format.

“It allows us more days of competition and less days of practice,” Petry said. “When you’re out there for 212 to 3 months and you’re playing just 10 days, it’s hard to keep the kids interested. We’ve created a very competitive schedule for us this year.”

Senior pitcher Eric Peterson, a KU signee, headlines the Firebirds. Peterson, one of four seniors on the roster, led Free State in wins (three), strikeouts (71), innings pitched (5513 innings) and earned run average (5.44) last year during the Firebirds’ 5-16 season.

“Pitching is always paramount and Eric Peterson is one of the better pitchers around,” fifth-year FSHS coach Mike said. “You also need depth. He can’t throw every game.”

Hill plans to start Peterson on Thursday against Shawnee Mission South. Hill is still searching for a No. 2 pitcher.

“We have a lot of arms and a lot of good kids working hard,” Hill said. “Right now it’s going to be a by-committee scenario.”

Junior Nate Burman, junior Ben Bieker, sophomore Josh Moreno, junior Matt Lane and senior Cassidy Thompson figure to be in the pitching mix. Thompson hasn’t been able to throw the first couple of weeks of practice because of a torn muscle in his elbow.

Free State’s projected defensive lineup for the opener is Jeremiah Gress or Chris Coleman at catcher; Matt Lane, first base; Tyler Blankenship, second base; Matt Berner, shortstop; Kyle Unruh, third base; Chris Barr, left field; David Allen, center field and David Arndt, right field. Berner hit a team-high .403 last season.

“We’ve got a chance to be a pretty decent ball club,” said Hill, whose squad has an all-time record of 35-49-1. “Offensivley, we’ll have an opportunity to do some things. We’ve hit the ball well the first two weeks of practice, but we certainly know game situations are different.

“Defensively, we’ll be solid. What we need to do is make routine plays. We’re not real deep yet. We’ve got a nucleus of 10 to 12 guys who will see the majority of playing time.”

FSHS started the trend last year of going to single games instead of doubleheaders and the rest of the Sunflower League followed this spring.

“The league has decided to go to single games, which is wonderful,” Hill said. “High school baseball in Kansas is poor in terms of the limitation of games you’re allowed to play. Going to single games is something we’re excited about. It allows us to play three or four times a week. The kids like it because it cuts down on practice time.”

FSHS has two tournaments on its schedule  the Claremore Festival in Oklahoma and the River City Festival in Lawrence.

“We’re playing the best teams in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska and the Sunflower League is always tough,” Hill said. “When you play those level of teams, you’ll take knocks on the chin. We want to elevate our level of play. Competing against some outstanding teams will get us ready for regional. We have to be patient and have to understand it’s a process.”