Lawrence High’s John Novotny and Free State’s Kyle Cross played American Legion baseball together last summer, temporarily eliminating any crosstown tension between the Lions and the Firebirds.

That’s not to say practical jokes, which comically renewed the rivalry, were out of the question.

“We were on the road all the time,” Novotny, a senior, said. “One time I took a trash can and filled it up three quarters with water. I leaned it up against the door, so when it opened, the trash can fell from the weight of the water.”

The entry way to Cross’ hotel room was drenched.

“A bucket full of water fell onto my socks,” Cross, a senior, said. “I chased him down the hall, screaming at him, but I didn’t get too far with the soggy socks.”

Lawrence High (9-7) will face Free State (12-3) at 5 p.m. today at the Firebirds’ home field and 7 p.m. Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark. Novotny likely won’t have any practical jokes in mind.

“We want to sweep those guys,” Novotny said. “There’s nothing like playing against Free State.”

The Lions have all the motivation they need. They haven’t defeated the Firebirds, who won the Kansas Class 6A state title last season, since 2002.

“From the last four years, we’ve had better clubs from a talent perspective,” Free State coach Mike Hill said. “This year, they’re probably the more talented team. We’re a young club – that’s not to say we don’t have talent, though.”

Free State has lost two of its last three games, while Lawrence has lost three of its last four.

Today’s game at Free State will count toward the Sunflower League standings. Thursday’s game at Hoglund won’t have any effect on the league race.

“I don’t think it makes a difference for either group of kids,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “It’s their rival. You could play this thing at a goat ranch and the kids would be fired up.”

Lawrence will likely pitch senior ace Daniel Green today and junior Joe Kornbrust Thursday. Hill said he wasn’t sure who would pitch for Free State. The Firebirds don’t have an ace. It’s likely junior lefty Caleb Gress will start one of the two games.

“I’ve become extremely confident in him,” Cross, who plays left field, said of Gress. “Caleb doesn’t have extreme velocity, but he has a great curve ball. He locates down low, which makes it extremely hard to hit in the gaps. He gets a lot of ground balls.”

Lawrence has struggled recently at the plate. The Lions have averaged 3.5 runs in their last six games. Lawrence is averaging 7.5 runs per game on the season.

“We try to communicate to our kids that our offense is kind of like a fast break, no huddle in football,” Stoll said. “We try to be as aggressive and borderline out-of-control as possible. Our aggressiveness just hasn’t been there.”

Cross said he was familiar with Green’s style of pitching from last summer.

“He’s going to try to locate outside and beat us away,” Cross said. “We plan to hit the ball to the right side of the field. You have to hit the ball where he pitches the ball.”

Lawrence and Free State would be content simply playing today and Thursday. LHS had two games postponed earlier in the week, while Free State had its Monday game rained out.

“We just want to play,” Hill said. “It could be anybody, at this stage.”