Trailing by six runs during the fifth inning, Lawrence High’s baseball team could have given up. But such a performance would not have characterized the fortitude of this Lions squad.

“It’s a bunch of cocky little dirtbags we got,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “They’re pretty confident. They think they can play with anybody.”

The self-assured Lions drubbed Omaha Creighton Preparatory School, 14-7, Thursday night at Hoglund Ballpark, scoring six runs during the fifth inning and seven during the eighth.

“We never panicked,” said sophomore Clint Pinnick, who went 3-for-3. “I wasn’t thinking about hitting it far. I was just thinking about getting on base.”

LHS chipped away at the lead, never notching more than a double. Travis Sanders started the rally with a single, Nick DeBiasse was hit by a pitch, and Tony Williams and Pinnick both walked to score Sanders. Chase Muder, Aaron Rea and Daniel Parker all reached base, driving in five runs to tie the game at 7 heading into the sixth inning.

LHS opened the floodgates again during that inning with Jordan Guntert, John Novotny, Williams, Pinnick, Parker, Sanders and DeBiasse all reaching base.

A 14-7 Lawrence win seemed improbable early on. Creighton starting pitcher Joe Holtmeyer reached the high 80s on his fastball. He stifled LHS, allowing no runs and fanning four Lions through three innings.

“He was the fastest pitcher we faced all season. So it took us a while to adjust to him,” said Parker, the leadoff hitter. “Once we saw him a few times, we knew what he was doing.”

Creighton looked strong offensively as well. Mark Waldron and Cody Schramm delivered two singles a piece during their first two at-bats. That helped the Blue Jays take a 5-0 lead during the fourth inning.

Four of those runs came against starting pitcher Drew Hulse, who went three innings. Junior reliever Joe Kornbrust relieved Hulse for three innings and earned the victory. The team’s stopper, Guntert, closed the game, pitching a scoreless seventh.

Thursday’s win was noteworthy not only for the comeback, but also because it came against a 12-3 team and a tradition-rich Midwestern school.

“That is a great team we just beat,” Stoll said. “They’re historically a fantastic program.”

The Lions (6-3) face another powerhouse, Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhust, tonight at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. And how high will their confidence be heading into the 8 p.m. game?

“It’s sky high right now,” Parker said. “I can’t wait to get out and play.”