Lawrence High's baseball team really hadn't begun rolling offensively despite its undefeated record heading into Thursday's opening game of the River City Festival at Ice Field.
On Thursday, the Lions' slumber ended.
LHS scored 17 runs off 14 hits in a 17-10 slugfest victory over Gladstone (Mo.) Winnetonka High.
"In our first three games we've done a good job pitching and defensively. Our offense hasn't been bad, but not what I was expecting," Lawrence coach David Petry said. "Our bats finally woke up. I just thought it was a matter of time with this group."
Winnetonka was something of a hard-luck loser after scoring 10 runs off eight hits.
But LHS scored 13 runs in just two innings. The Lions scored six runs in the second and seven more in the fifth.
Eight Lions scored at least two runs each. LHS senior catcher Tommy Mangino and senior second baseman Kyle McManness each crossed the plate three times.
Mangino wound up with six RBIs after going 2-for-5 with a double in the second and a grand slam in the third. Senior left fielder Dominick Harrell hit a slam of his own in the fifth.
"Some days the ball looks huge. Some days it looks like a golf ball," Mangino said. "I just teed off and had a good game."
Lawrence High senior Aaron Madill settles under a fly ball in the Lions' 17-10 victory over Winnetonka, Mo. The Lions improved to 4-0 with the victory Thursday at Ice Field.
Petry said the senior's play helped the Lions' offense.
"He's got a lot of confidence. He's really done a great job in the leadership role as a senior," Petry said. "What he's doing offensively is starting to become contagious with the other kids."
Senior right fielder Matt Johnson went 4-for-4 on the day with four singles -- and he had the understatement of the day.
"Seventeen hits," he said, "isn't bad."
Junior pitcher John Parker picked up the win in his first varsity pitching experience after replacing senior starter Taylor Martin in the fourth inning.
Next up for Lions (4-0) is a meeting with Chaminade College Prep at 6 tonight at Ice Field.
Lawrence 17, Winnetonka 10
Lawrence High third baseman Spence Chaney searches for a ball that bounced off his glove. LHS beat Gladstone (Mo.) Winnetonka High, 17-10, Thursday at Ice Field.
Winnetonka 201 500 2 -- 10 8 3
Lawrence 064 070 x -- 17 14 5
W -- John Parker, 1-0. L-- Darryl Kelley.
6Sports video: Lawrence wins huge game over Winnetonka2B-- LHS: Mangino, Ryan Rowland, Spence Chaney, Harrell, McManness, Carl Lisher; Winnetonka: Peters, Justin Rupp.; HR--LHS: Mangino, Dominick Harrell; Winnetonka: Joel Bozarth, Pete Peters, Nick Van Stratten.
LHS highlights: Mangino 2-for-5, HR, 6 RBIs; Johnson 4-for-4; Harrell 2-for-4, HR.
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