Raiders confident victors
Slow start no problem in 10-2 rout
Shhhhh — don’t tell anyone, but the Lawrence Raiders might have the best American Legion team in the state.
At least the Raiders think so, and Wednesday night they displayed everything — offense, defense, pitching, and even a few miscues in a 10-2 victory over Kansas City Post 83 at Free State High’s field.
“I think it’s the best team I’ve ever played for,” Raider Dominick Harrell said.
OK, so the Raiders didn’t have their best stuff early in their home opener, but they quickly righted the ship.
A not-so-fantastic fourth inning, which featured three walks and two errors by the Raiders, gave K.C. a 2-0 lead.
No problem.
The Raiders provided a nine spot on offense, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the seventh that showed their prowess at the plate — as if the Raiders’ 47 runs in the first four games wasn’t an indication.
Lawrence Raiders' Andrew Pyle, right, tries to elude the catcher to cross home plate. The Raiders beat K.C. Post 83, 10-2, Wednesday at Free State Field.
“I think we were a bit tight starting at home,” said David Arndt, whose single in the bottom of the sixth sparked the Raiders’ offense. “But once we got rolling, we didn’t stop.”
Arndt scored on Derek Bailey’s sacrifice fly, cutting Lawrence’s deficit in half in the sixth. That wouldn’t matter an inning later.
Taylor Martin started with a single and tied the game on Matt Berner’s RBI double. Aaron Madill’s RBI single gave the Raiders the lead for good, but Lawrence kept capitalizing on offense. After a sacrifice, Arndt delivered an RBI single before Andrew Pyle walked and Bailey reached on an error to load the bases.
K.C. walked in two runs and then gave up three more on passed balls.
“We feel that if we just play solid defense and get some good pitching, our offense can do the rest,” said Harrell.
Lawrence’s pitching staff finished the night with 15 strikeouts — including nine by Harrell, who entered in the fourth with one out and the bases loaded before striking out the next two batters.
Lawrence Raiders pitcher Blake Dickson hurls a pitch. The Raiders won, 10-2, Wednesday at Free State Field.
The game also featured a few defensive gems, and Raiders coach Carl Brooks said he was impressed.
“The thing about this team is there are no weaknesses,” he said. “We have the bats, we can play defense and we have the deepest pitching staff I’ve ever had on a team.
“Who knows, by the time it’s all done, but this team has the chance to do something special.”
