Slumping players can mean the end for a team. That is, unless they break out of their slump at the right time – the end of the season.

For the Lawrence Raiders, that player had been Lorenzo Ricketts. That’s past tense, because Ricketts has exploded at the plate lately.

His latest performance was a 4-for-4 night with a triple and three RBIs in the Raiders’ 13-12 American Legion baseball victory over Manhattan on Wednesday at Free State High.

“I guess I can say it’s about time,” said Ricketts, who has gone 10-for-11 with seven runs scored and batted in over the last three games. “I hit my big-time senior slump, and I’m just glad I can come out and help out the team a little bit. And it’s about time.”

But for Ricketts, it’s not just his bat that has saved the Raiders down the stretch. He also has been a rock at first base.

“They don’t get any better than Zo at first,” Raiders relief pitcher Daren Parker said. “I’m real confident having him there. Whenever there’s a ground ball in the infield and a throw to him, it’s an automatic out.”

Raiders starting pitcher Max Ellenbecker delivers against Manhattan. Ellenbecker struggled, but the Raiders claimed a 13-12 victory Wednesday at Free State High.

And against Manhattan, his presence was essential, as he snagged a few errant throws to prevent the Raiders (22-5) from racking up any more than their four errors recorded – two of which came in an eight-run third inning.

Those errors were costly at times, as the Raiders only retired the leadoff batter twice – the first time in the seventh inning.

“When our pitchers are up there throwing balls, it kind of gets our defense back on their heels,” Raiders coach Troy Wingert said. “So if we throw strikes, our defense is on their toes, and they feel like they’re more in-tuned with the game. : So pitching, in turn, leads to defense, and when we’re not pitching it well, we’re probably not going to get a good outing defensively.”

Lawrence Raiders catcher Patrick Johnson, left, tags out Manhattan's Jake Holle in the top of the fifth inning. The Raiders claimed a 13-12 Legion baseball victory on Wednesday at Free State High.

But after Raiders’ starter Max Ellenbecker gave up all eight runs in the third to put Lawrence in a six-run hole, Parker came in to record the final out of the inning. Parker then pitched another four scoreless innings to claim the decision.

“Max didn’t come out and have his best stuff because it was hot, and I understand that,” Wingert said. “But we’ve got to battle through adversity. Daren Parker comes in and is just lights-out. He was big-time for us, because in a nine-inning game we’ve got to start stretching our starters out, because zone and state are nine innings.

Lawrence Raiders shortstop John Sneegas bats against Manhattan. The Raiders out-slugged Manhattan, 13-12, Wednesday at Free State High.

“So, our pitchers have got to start working ahead, getting on top early, because a three-inning outing is just not going to cut it in the next couple of weeks.”

John Sneegas came in to hold Manhattan in the eighth inning, and Scott Heitshusen came in to close them out in the ninth, but not without a little suspense.

Heitshusen had to rely on Travis Ice to record the final two outs of the game – which came with the bases loaded – after Heitshusen had given up a single and threw away the Raiders’ fourth error to start the inning.

“A big concern of mine is taking care of the baseball, and we’re kicking it around,” Wingert said. “We had some mental errors that led to giving up bases, and that just can’t happen. We have power, but it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, when we give up bases and kick the ball around, we’re not going to be successful.”