Scott Heitshusen crushed the game-winning home run so far that the opposing left fielder barely moved to try to catch the baseball.

“Ahh!” yelled Heitshusen, immediately after making contact.

Game over.

The Lawrence Raiders defeated the Lawrence Outlaws, 8-6 in seven innings, Wednesday night at Free State High.

“They were saying like 450, but I don’t know,” Heitshusen said about how many feet the walk-off home run traveled. “He came with the fastball trying to beat it by me, and I was just on time with it.

It wasn’t supposed to be a home run, though.

“To tell you the truth, I was really wanting him to put a bunt down so we could move the runner and maybe make something happen,” Raiders coach Troy Wingert said.

Raiders starting pitcher Kyle Cross (4) congratulates Scott Heitshusen on his game-winning home run against the Lawrence Outlaws. The Raiders won, 8-6, Wednesday at Free State High.

After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh inning, Raiders coaches signaled Heitshusen to bunt to put the winning run in scoring position. After two failed bunt attempts, Heitshusen had no choice but to swing.

“I struck out two times, obviously, so I just put that behind me as best as I could and went up to the plate that last at-bat trying to end the game,” Heitshusen said.

This happened after home-plate umpire ejected Outlaws coach Chris Johnson. The Outlaws loaded the bases with the game tied at 6 in the top of the seventh inning. Shortstop Sam Anderson hit a line drive that hit his own player at third base. The Raiders threw the ball to first base to end the inning.

Since Johnson saw the baseball hit his player at third base, he argued for a foul ball.

“I just saw the ball go off the guy’s foot, and I thought it was foul, and I really have no other comment on that,” Johnson said.

The Raiders struggled to get into an early rhythm. Kyle Cross threw nine straight balls before he struck out Jordan Guntert for his first out. Cross had trouble with his location on pitches in the first inning, which caused four mound visits and four Outlaws runs.

Raiders shortstop Travis Ice prepares to throw to first for an out. The Raiders rallied to beat the Outlaws, 8-6, on Wednesday at Free State High.

John Sneegas relieved Cross in the sixth inning, utilizing his curveball. He didn’t give up any runs and earned the victory.

“He’ll come in and backdoor you on some curveballs, and he’s going to run that fastball right in on your hands,” Wingert said of Sneegas. “All I wanted him to do was come in and throw strikes, which he did, and he put us in an even better position to win the ball game.”

Tyler Knight helped the Raiders on both sides of the field. Knight hit a home run over the left-field wall with the Raiders trailing 5-1 in the second inning. He also stole a base, was hit by a pitch and drew a walk. Defensively, Knight produced a laser relay from center field, which helped gun down Guntert, who tried to extend his double into a triple.

“We’ve been coming out flat, so right off the bat, I was just looking to hit the ball hard and put some pressure on them early, which we haven’t been doing,” Knight said. “I was just trying to get the team alive.”

Wednesday night marked the first meeting of the American Legion season between the two city teams.

Wingert said the teams decided to play seven innings before the game, because his squad recently played games on consecutive nights. It would have been difficult for the Raiders’ pitching staff to pitch nine innings, he said.