The Lawrence Outlaws are now six games into the baseball season, but have only taken the field twice.

The reason – all of the opponents keep bailing on them. That was the case again Tuesday when they were scheduled to face the Topeka Giants at Ice Field. But no Giants, and no games.

“I’m not totally sure for what the reasoning is,” said Outlaws coach Chris Johnson, who hadn’t been able to get in contact with the Giants’ coach. “Hopefully, they give me a call back. It’s kind of bad for our players and our team, because we haven’t had that many games played yet. We had a nice night. It wasn’t that hot, and it would have been fun to play.”

The Outlaws’ season-opener against Basehor was cancelled when Basehor wasn’t able to field a squad. Therefore, the team’s season opener was at Emporia, and the home-opener is still on hold.

With the field already scheduled to be used and his players already suited up for the games, Johnson decided to have a light practice and give his players a look at live pitching, throwing his scheduled starting pitchers off the mound.

“We practice about every other day – get in the cages, take some ground balls – and they keep asking me when we’re going to play … and they’re definitely antsy to play,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s squad is scheduled to play in the 3&2 Tournament this weekend in Kansas City and the Al Ice Woodbat Classic the following weekend.

“I know, for sure, we’re in those,” the Outlaws’ coach said. “So, we’ll be playing those games. … We’ll catch up. I just feel bad for these kids. I want to play, and they want to play, and we’ve got all this nice weather, and we just get a bad deal.”