Mind games were lingering in the Lawrence Raiders’ dugout Saturday in a doubleheader with Springfield (Mo.) Glendale at Free State High.

The lack of mental composure plagued the play in the field, resulting in four errors in their 14-10 loss in game one and another four errors in a 10-4 victory.

“The one thing about the game of baseball is sometimes you show up and the other team is just swinging it better,” Raiders coach Troy Wingert said. “We’re making good pitches, and they’re hitting them. … The thing that bothers me is we kicked the ball around a little bit … if we take better care of the baseball, we probably come out on top in that first game.”

But the once-present mental mistakes for Lorenzo Ricketts disappeared in his first at-bat of the double duel – along with all other at-bats but one.

The Raiders’ first baseman went a combined 6-for-7, was also issued a base-on-balls and came around to score on five of his seven visits to the base path.

“The spring season I struggled a little bit and kind of told myself I wasn’t as good as I can be,” Ricketts said. “So I started from scratch and got my confidence back and told myself I can. … I finally tried to conquer it a little bit and try to do what I can for the team.”

Ricketts showed the crowd that he had conquered his mental struggles with a two-run home run that plated Travis Ice in the fourth inning of game two.

Daniel Green, left, congratulates Raiders teammate Lorenzo Ricketts after his home run in game two.

“Zo’s been having great (batting practice) as of late, and he’s starting to carry that over into the games,” Wingert said. “He’s a big, strong, powerful kid, and with that home run, we saw he got a hanging curveball and put it over the 375 sign. For us, if he gets hot, we’re going to be very successful.”

Wingert said the top of the order was his main concern and he’d been happy with the play of the bottom half of the lineup.

He was definitely happy with his sixth and seventh hitters Saturday: Tyler Knight, who was 4-for-7 and came around to score all four times, and Brett Lisher, who had four doubles and six runs batted in for the day.

Travis Blankenship, however, struggled in the morning match-up, giving up 10 runs in 21â3 innings before turning the ball over to Daren Parker.

“I don’t know what was happening – the baseball gods weren’t with us today or something,” Ricketts said. “But we kept on going, and you’ve got to win every inning no matter what happens, and that’s our main goal. … The least you can do is always come back with a plan.”

John Sneegas was the plan in the second game. Sneegas went the distance for the Raiders, and besides a pair of home runs late in the game, kept the Falcons at bay as he stranded seven baserunners – getting out of a bases-loaded jam unharmed in the third inning with one out.

“I struggled with the zone a little bit today,” Sneegas said. “But I’ll battle – that’s just what I always do.”