For the second time in eight days, Lawrence High’s baseball team overcame a three-run deficit for a win, but this time coach David Petry wasn’t elated.

OK, he was pumped about the Lions’ 8-7 win Friday against St. Louis Chaminade Prep in the River City Festival at Ice Field. After all, just like last Thursday’s 5-4 victory against Olathe North, LHS scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a rousing win and remained undefeated at 5-0.

Petry was upset the Lions had to rally at all.

“I’ve never been a coach that evaluated every win according to if we won,” he said. “When we win and I don’t feel like we played well, I struggle with that.”

Petry said the Lions’ baserunning errors and mental mistakes in the field cost them early, but admitted it was tough to overlook the impressive comeback.

Until the seventh, LHS mustered only six hits and four runs — half of the Red Devils’ totals — then nearly equaled that total when it mattered most.

“What this is doing is giving us a huge amount of confidence,” Petry said. “They know as long as they still have one out left, we can come back and win the thing.”

Chaminade posted six runs in the first two innings, five coming off the bat of left fielder Chris Schmidt, who had five RBIs on two home runs. LHS responded with one in the first inning and two more in the second when senior Aaron Madill crushed a two-run homer down the left-field line.

But, as LHS pitcher Ryan Rowland settled in, allowing one run in the next three innings, the Lions’ only offense came from senior Matt Johnson’s homer in the fifth.

Trailing 7-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, LHS senior Taylor Martin, who already smacked two doubles to that point, caught a break and got the Lions rolling.

He popped a short fly into left field, but Red Devil shortstop Aaron Thompson couldn’t get back on the ball. Martin, hustling the whole time, reached second on the play. Two batters later, with runners at first and third, Martin scored on senior Dominick Harrell’s double.

LHS pitcher Ryan Rowland, front, is knocked out of the base path by Jordan Thompson of Chaminade Prep. The Lions beat the St. Louis school Friday at Ice Field.

That brought up junior Ryan Engel with a chance to drive in the tying runs and represent the winning run.

“I was lucky that (hit) kind of fell in there,” Martin said. “But I knew with Engel coming up he’d come through for us. I had faith in us the whole time.”

Engel dropped a single into center field, scoring both Johnson and Harrell. Senior Tommy Mangino followed with a single, then junior Carl Lisher roped a pitch down the left-field line for the game-winning RBI.

LHS ends the festival against Shawnee Heights at 2:30 p.m. today at Ice Field. Motivation shouldn’t be a problem, either.

The T-Birds, who lost 1-0 to Shawnee Mission South Thursday, are Class 5A’s top-ranked team and swept a doubleheader from LHS last year. Senior Spence Chaney will start for the Lions.

“We went to Shawnee Heights last year and they run-ruled us and beat us in the next game, so we owe them for that,” Martin said. “We’re gonna come out swinging and ready to play.”

Lawrence High shortstop Aaron Madill dives for -- but can't handle -- a ground ball. The Lions beat St. Louis Chaminade Prep, 8-7, Friday at Ice Field.

— Sports reporter Mike Miller can be reached at 832-7152.

Lawrence High 8, St. Louis (Mo.) Chaminade Prep 7

SLCP 240 010 0 — 7 13 2

LHS 123 010 4 — 8 10 1

W — Aaron Madill (2-0); L — Alex Otto.

2B — SLCP: Aaron Thompson; LHS: Taylor Martin (2), Dominick Harrell. HR — SLCP: Chris Schmidt (2); LHS: Madill, Matt Johnson.

Highlights: Tommy Mangino 2-4, RBI; Martin 2-3, 2 runs; Madill 1-2, 2 RBIs; Johnson 1-3, RBI.