CHANUTE ? Lawrence Raiders players and coaches were in uniform and waiting to defend their State AAA American Legion baseball title Thursday.

They’re still waiting.

And so are the Lawrence Outlaws, who also qualified for the eight-team, double-elimination tourney.

Wet grounds at Katy Park forced tournament officials to postpone Thursday’s four-game, first-round slate to today.

The Raiders, scheduled to play at 1 p.m. Thursday, camped out in their motel rooms instead and will have to begin their title defense at about 1 p.m. today against Arkansas City. The Outlaws, scheduled to meet Chanute Thursday night, remained in Lawrence on Thursday and will tangle with the tourney host team at 7 tonight.

“We’ve dealt with this a few times this year, with 16 games rained out,” Outlaws coach Matt Schubert said. “It’s old hat for us.”

The tourney will continue with elimination games Saturday and Sunday. The championship contest is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday.

Will Falk (6-2, 2.63 ERA) will start on the mound for the Outlaws tonight. Schubert said he will use Chris Gabriel (5-3, 2.50 ERA) in Saturday’s game. The third pitcher in his rotation is Rob Evinger (5-2, 3.50 ERA).

Gabriel and Evinger are among five Eudora players on the Outlaws’ 18-man roster. The remainder of the roster breaks down with six players from Lawrence High, three players each from Free State High and Perry-Lecompton High and one home-schooled player — pitcher Josh Winter.

Right fielder Josh Landis is the Outlaws’ leading hitter with a .478 batting average. Landis was named the Outlaws’ MVP at this week’s Dorsey-Liberty Legion Post awards dinner. The Outlaws’ second-leading hitter is center fielder Mitch McPherson, a Perry-Lecompton product who is batting .435. Catcher Cole Massey, who hails from Eudora, is hitting .400.

Right-hander Tyson Corley, a Mill Valley High product, will start today’s game for the Raiders. Taylor Martin, who pitches and plays the outfield and first base, was named the Raiders’ MVP. Three Raiders also earned college scholarship money from the Legion — pitcher Aaron Madill, third baseman Tyler Blankenship and Martin. The Outlaws’ Derek Holland also was a scholarship recipient.

MVP awards also went to players on the two Junior Legion teams. Catcher Patrick Johnson was the Mavericks’ honoree, while the Bandits’ winner was pitcher-outfielder Max Ellenbecker. The Bandits won the Legion A Tournament last Monday in Emporia, spilling Dodge City, 10-7, in the championship game. Ellenbecker pitched and hit a three-run homer in that contest.