Today, the Lawrence Outlaws will make their first-ever appearance in the American Legion Class AAA state baseball tournament.

Though they’re traveling nearly 100 miles to Chanute for the tournament, they would like nothing more than the opportunity to play against the Lawrence Raiders.

“These guys want to win it, and that’s all I’ve heard them talk about so far,” coach Matt Schubert said. “They want to play the Raiders. The motivation to play the Raiders is going to help a little bit.”

In the double-elimination, eight-team tournament, the two Lawrence squads could face off in the final game of the winner’s bracket if they both win their first two games. The Outlaws’ tournament will begin tonight when they face Chanute at 8.

The Outlaws will have to continue to deliver solid pitching performances and defensive consistency that made them successful last week. In a tournament where close play is expected, Schubert believes his team can bring its all-around game again.

“We’re going to have to continue to pitch and play defense like we have the last three weeks of the season.” he said. “Whenever we’ve lost games, it’s usually because of defense and pitching. It’s usually not because of a lack of hitting.”

As an added intangible, the team has extra drive heading into the state tournament after defeating top-seeded Topeka Post 74 last weekend in Manhattan to advance to the state tournament.

“Motivation to beat (Topeka) was that they were the team that beat us in the championship last year.” Schubert said. “The Raiders … they’re just a step above Topeka 74. We know we’re going to have to play well to give ourselves an opportunity to play the Raiders.”