Emporia ? When you’re hot you’re hot, and the Lawrence Bandits are torrid after winning the state American Legion A baseball title Monday morning.

“We’ve been up and down all summer,” Bandits coach Brad Stoll said, “but our bats came alive in Emporia.”

The Bandits, an under-16 team composed of Free State High students, won all four games at the rain-delayed state A meet at Soden Grove.

First, the Bandits edged Olathe East, 3-2, behind the pitching of Max Ellenbecker. Then they trimmed Ottawa, 7-3, behind a strong mound performance from Jack Hull.

Sunday, Travis Blankenship was the winning pitcher in a 6-4 decision over Dodge City. That set up Monday morning’s title game, and the Bandits pulled out a 10-7 victory in eight innings.

“In all four games we got up early, then let the other team creep back,” Stoll said. “But we always answered back.”

In Monday’s game, Dodge City knotted the score at 7, but the Bandits exploded for three runs in the eighth to capture their first state title since 1994.

Ellenbecker was the plate standout, going 3-for-5 with a home run and driving in four runs. Ellenbecker also was the winning pitcher, surviving five errors by his teammates.

“We didn’t make an error until that last game,” Stoll said. “Then we made five, but we were able to overcome it.”

Second baseman Travis Ice had two hits in the title game.

Among the Bandits’ tourney standouts were catcher Andy Petz, who threw out four would-be base-stealers; first baseman Lorenzo Ricketts, who stole four bases; third baseman Matt Ertner; and center fielder Nick Ayre.

By winning, the Bandits extended their season. They’ll travel to Enid, Okla., this weekend for the Legion A Mid-States Regional. The Bandits’ first foe will be the Minnesota state champion at 5:30 p.m. Friday.