Raiders roll into semifinals

Heitshusen strong on mound, at plate in tournament win

? The Lawrence Raiders defeated Springfield-Hillcrest, 6-1, Monday at the Bartlesville Fourth of July Tournament, advancing to a semifinal game today at 1 p.m.

A victory in that game against an opponent that was to be determined late Monday night would advance the Raiders to tonight’s championship game of the pool-play American Legion baseball tournament.

Scott Heitshusen (5-1), who pitched Free State High to its first state title this spring, earned the victory and led the offense. Heitshusen pitched five innings and allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out five. At the plate, he homered, singled and drove in three runs.

Left-hander Daren Parker backed Heitshusen with two shutout innings of relief, struck out four, allowed three hits and didn’t walk a batter.

Kansas University-bound center fielder Brian Heere went 2 for 4 with a double. Brett Lisher, John Novotny and Tyler Knight all drove in runs for the Raiders, who improved to 18-4.

Lawrence Raiders 6,

Springfield-Hillcrest 1

W – Scott Heitshusen, 5-1.

Raiders highlights – Heitshusen, homered, singled, drove in three runs, pitched five innings, allowed one run, struck out five; Daren Parker pitched two shutout innings of relief; Brian Heere, Tyler Knight, and Brett Lisher each had two hits.

Record: 18-4. Next: 1 p.m. semifinal today vs. TBD, winner advances to 6 p.m. final.