HOME PLATE AT ICE FIELD, the home field for the Lawrence High baseball team, sits covered in wet mud, the result of heavy rains that hammered the Lawrence area over the weekend and early Monday.

UNABSORBED WATER SITS ON THE FOUL LINE at one of the baseball fields at Holcom Park. Several city sporting events again were canceled Monday because of poor field conditions caused by this spring's wet weather.

The Lawrence High baseball team was supposed to spend Monday afternoon gearing up for that night’s game Shawnee Mission South.

Instead, stormy weather and wet field conditions forced the Lions to spend the day inside the school’s west gym, hacking away at practice pitches.

“It’s frustrating,” senior Daniel Parker said. “We get so amped up to play before every game, and then you just kind of get let down once you find out it’s rained out.”

That scenario, however, has become commonplace this season. During this week, the final one of the Class 6A regular season, two of the Lions’ games already have been postponed – Monday’s home game versus South, and today’s home game versus Shawnee Mission Northwest.

During his 11 years coaching high school baseball, LHS coach Brad Stoll has not witnessed this many rainouts and said the interruptions hinder teams’ performances.

“This is the worst I can remember,” Stoll said. “There’s no rhythm, no flow, and baseball is such a rhythm kind of a game.”

Early in the season, the Lions seemed to play at a higher level, defeating powerhouse programs Omaha (Neb.) Creighton Prep and Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst on April 19 and 20, respectively, before suffering a recent skid.

“You hate to make excuses. I’m not going to say it’s the reason we lost games,” Stoll said. “It’s affected the mind-set in the way some things have happened, but it didn’t cause us to go 1-3 last week.”

The Lions (9-7) have played more than enough games to qualify for the postseason, which requires a minimum of eight. The layoffs, however, have affected several aspects of the team.

The hitters planned to spend 45 minutes inside the batting cages Monday, facing coaches – a far cry from live, high school arms. And with less games played, the Lions also have not maintained their peak conditioning levels.

“Batting practice is a different feel,” Parker said. “We’re not really in game shape any more. We kind of get tired easier.”

The rainouts, though, hurt the hitters more than pitchers. Although the pitchers would enjoy competing against teams more often, the lack of game action can preserve their arms.

“You get a quite bit more rest than you usually would,” Joe Kornbrust said. “That’s sort of a plus, but you also want to play.”

The junior pitcher said he would spend Monday indoors, going through 45s – light throwing exercises from 45-feet.

“You can’t even make a full throw or simulate a 90-foot throw,” Stoll said, “or you’re going to get somebody killed. We don’t go in there unless there’s just absolutely no other option.”

The soggy weather has also muddied this year’s city showdown series between LHS and Free State. Torrential rains postponed the April 10 meeting, necessitating back-to-back contests Wednesday and Thursday. City players hope the weather clears up for the rivalry games.

“That would be really disappointing, especially on all our senior years, not getting to play them,” Parker said. “Maybe if they get rained out, we can see them during regionals.”