Emporia — After second baseman Paul Metzler fielded the final ground ball and threw to first for the out, it was celebration time for the Lawrence Raiders.
Thing is, the Raiders didn't do a whole of celebrating.
There was no dogpile on the mound. No throwing of gloves or hats or even the ball.
No, the Raiders simply came together and congratulated each other by lining up and shaking hands.
The team had been there before, and it had showed throughout the AAA Legion state baseball tournament.
Lawrence accomplished what never had been done in Kansas, winning its third consecutive Legion state title in a 9-0 victory over Topeka Post 400 on Sunday in the championship game.
But, as the subdued celebration showed, the players realized the season is far from over.
Lawrence Raiders, from left, Jake Hoover, Lorenzo Ricketts and Brett Lisher celebrate at home plate after Ricketts' three-run home run in the first inning. The Raiders rolled over Topeka Post 400, 9-0, Sunday in the championship game of the AAA Legion state tournament Sunday in Emporia.
The Raiders will travel to the Midwest AAA Regional in Mandan, N.D., for a four-day tournament beginning Aug. 11.
"Dogpiles are great and all that, but we're not done," Raiders first baseman Lorenzo Ricketts said. "A state championship is great, but we're looking to regionals and maybe something after that. It's definitely showing that we're not done with our business yet."
The team proved it was best in the state Sunday, again receiving a strong effort on the mound, with Matt Wingert dominating from the start.
The right-hander pitched a complete game, allowing no runs and striking out four in his only outing of the tournament.
Wingert continued what was an extraordinary weekend for the Lawrence pitchers. Jake Hoover, Max Ellenbecker, Tyler Blankenship and Grant Meisenheimer combined with Wingert to allow only two earned runs in the 34 innings of the state tourney.
Lawrence infielder Tommy Fitzgerald, left, high-fives Will Falk, right, after Falk recorded a force out against Topeka Post 400. The Raiders beat Topeka Post 400, 9-0, Sunday in Emporia to capture the AAA Legion state crown.
"All of our pitchers are probably No. 1 aces for anybody else," Wingert said. "We just needed to come out and work hard to throw strikes."
The Raiders wasted no time scoring. Brian Heere led off the bottom of the first with a lined shot over the wall in straight-away center.
"When Brian hit that home run, that took a lot of pressure off us," Ricketts said. "That first run is always big because you want to get something started."
Ricketts made sure the Raiders weren't finished in the first.
After hits from Brett Lisher and Hoover and a walk to Cory Cooper, Ricketts hit a towering drive to center. It landed in the trees for a three-run home run and a 5-0 Lawrence lead.
The Raiders added two more in the second on a sacrifice fly from Lisher and an RBI single from Hoover.
Lisher completed his impressive weekend with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, adding a double and RBI. The left fielder won the tournament's most valuable hitter award after finishing the four games with a .611 average.
Raiders pitcher Matt Wingert winds up against Topeka Post 400 in the AAA Legion state title game. Wingert pitched a shutout as the Raiders won, 9-0, Sunday in Emporia.
"It's a big honor for me," Lisher said. "Luckily, I got some good swings on the ball this weekend."
Heere added three hits and three runs scored in the victory, and Ricketts contributed a pair of hits and three RBIs.
Kevin Tucker became the third consecutive Raiders coach to win the state title.
"It's special for the kids," Tucker said. "It's something we set out to do early, and they attained that goal. I couldn't be more happy with these guys."
The Raiders will take a few days off before preparing for regionals in 11 days.
That is, if they even allow themselves to celebrate.
"There's no point in getting all worked up when you've more games to play," Lisher said. "This isn't the end of our season. We're not done yet."
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