Salina ? The fans of the Salina Falcons got the first glimpse of the carnival that is the Lawrence Raiders in the first round of the Kansas AAA American Legion state tournament Friday at Dee Evans Stadium.

The Raiders took one more step toward their fourth consecutive state title with their fourth consecutive run-rule victory – this time, a 14-4 roller-coaster affair.

It was clear in the first two innings the Falcons weren’t intimidated by the Raiders’ 58 runs scored in their three zone games. The hosts put up two solo home runs and a two-run double against Raiders right-hander Scott Heitshusen to open an early 4-0 lead.

But then Heitshusen finally proved to be the main attraction, giving up four hits in the final five innings.

“Coming out, I was kind of shaky on the bump and leaving a few pitches up, and obviously they took advantage of it,” Heitshusen said. “Then, after that happened, I just cleared my head basically, got my composure together and went back on the mound and do what I always do – live low in the zone and throw strikes.”

Most important for Heitshusen was the fact he didn’t give free baserunners to the Falcons by issuing walks or hit batsmen. The same couldn’t be said for the Falcons, who issued 14 walks and plunked three Lawrence batters.

“When we’re getting free passes and it’s kind of a merry-go-round – so to speak – around the basepath, we’ll take it,” Raiders coach Troy Wingert said.

Lawrence Raiders right-hander Scott Heitshusen delivers a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Salina Falcons during the opening round of the Kansas AAA American Legion State Tournament. Heitshusen threw seven solid innings and chipped in a three-run home run at the plate as Lawrence secured a 14-4 victory Friday night at Dee Evans Stadium in Salina.

Eight of the team’s 17 free baserunners came around to score. Four of the walks were issued were with the bases loaded.

One of the biggest came in the bottom of the sixth, when Travis Ice’s patience paved the way to a six-run outburst – including a three-run homer by Heitshusen – that gave the Raiders a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“What I think got us going wasn’t Lorenzo Ricketts’ double down the line or Heitshusen’s home run, but when Travis Ice got a free pass via base-on-balls,” Wingert said. “And then, ‘Zo got his double, and then the home run, and that just kind of steamrolled us and we really got it going.”

Though Heitshusen received much praise for the first-round victory with his homer and performance on the mound, all but one person in the lineup touched the plate at least once – catcher Patrick Johnson being the exclusion, having had only one plate appearance before being replaced by Andy Petz behind the dish.

“We’ve talked all summer about the talent on this team – we carry 16 kids on this team and they’re all very, very talented,” Wingert said. “We’re minus a few, which thankfully it didn’t hurt us tonight.

“I’m confident in all of my kids’ abilities. I don’t have any problems with throwing anybody out there.”

The Raiders advanced to face the Blue Valley Jaguars tonight at 8 in the winners bracket.

“I’m glad that we got the monkey off our back and we can come out (against Blue Valley) and play our game and be more relaxed,” Wingert said. “I think that everybody in the stands who has followed the Raiders all summer could tell that we weren’t relaxed : because I think the expectations are so high. But now that we have the first one out of the way : I think we’re going to put it on somebody tomorrow.”

Lawrence 14, Salina 4

Salina 130 000 0-4 9 3

Lawrence 000 306 5-14 12 2

W-Scott Heitshusen. HR- Heitshusen. 2b-Lorenzo Ricketts, Andy Petz, Kyle Cross.