Olathe ? Nobody could accuse Lawrence High’s softball team of coasting in the early season.

The Lions were swept by defending state champion Olathe Northwest, 11-4 and 17-6, in a doubleheader on Thursday. Next up: last year’s Sunflower League runner-up, Olathe South.

“We definitely have a tough start to the season,” LHS coach Nick Wood said. “We’re basically playing the best in the league.”

Despite the pair of lopsided losses, Wood saw plenty to like Thursday.

In the opener, though the Lions (2-6) weren’t terribly efficient offensively, they managed 16 hits against the Ravens.

In the nightcap, they collected just six hits, but scored six runs.

“In the first game, obviously, we left way too many base-runners on,” Wood said. “We didn’t have a lot of extra-base hits. We had good at-bats, but we didn’t take advantage of situations. In that second game, we had some opportunities, and in that one inning, we really made a good run at it. We pieced some stuff together.

“It’s just that we’re young. We have moments in the field we give teams more than three outs. But we’re young. We will get better.”

LHS will host Olathe South on Tuesday.