Manhattan ? Facing Manhattan in the Class 6A regional championship game Wednesday, Lawrence High baseball players knew they had a small margin for error.

Against an explosive lineup, the Lions paid the price for every walk and every pitch left over the plate.

Once Manhattan took a lead, Lawrence couldn’t keep up in a 10-2 loss at Kansas State’s Tointon Family Stadium, ending the season one game shy of the state tournament.

“It really hurts right now,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “It just sucks. I want to go to practice so bad tomorrow.”

During the early innings, the Lions showcased their strengths in the small-ball offense. They spend time each practice working on base running and bunting, and it showed when they scored two runs in the second inning without the ball leaving the infield.

LHS senior Joe Harms sprinted to a leadoff infield single, and he scored on a throwing error during a sacrifice bunt from Preston Harris.

After Harris moved to third base on another sacrifice bunt, he scored on a bunt single by Alexander Guy for a 2-0 advantage.

But eventually, Manhattan’s bats heated up and the Lions couldn’t find the firepower to keep up. LHS stranded eight runners on base and had three innings end on diving stops from Manhattan third baseman Chance Henderson.

The top-seeded Indians (17-5) scored three runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth, including a three-run triple from senior Nicholas Wohler for a 7-2 lead.

“I was really pleased with the energy and the way it was working,” Stoll said. “They just came back and swung. We punched and they punched back. Tough to come back from that triple. It was a dagger.”

The Lions (9-13) advanced to the regional title game with a 3-2 victory over Washburn Rural earlier in the afternoon.

Lawrence led by three runs entering the bottom of the seventh inning when the Junior Blues (12-9) received extra life after a fly ball dropped in the outfield. The Junior Blues followed with back-to-back RBI singles, and suddenly had the game-winning run on first base.

But LHS junior pitcher Austin Quick forced a ground ball to help the Lions escape the first round, pitching in relief for the final out. Junior Devin Lauts allowed six hits and zero earned runs in 6 2/3 innings pitched.

“We got some things going and Devin was really special today,” Stoll said. “That was a fun first game.”

Against Washburn Rural, the Lions scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs via a single from Andrew Stewart, an error and a walk.

Stewart scored after Austin Quick hit into a fielder’s choice. Lauts scored on a throwing error, and Joe Harms hit a RBI double, scoring Braden Solko.

Lawrence was limited to three hits against Washburn Rural right-hander Zachary Ebert, who struck out 12 in a complete game.

But with a strong outing on the mound from Lauts — and surviving a close call in the seventh inning — it was all the Lions needed to keep their season alive for another game.

“I was proud of them,” Stoll said. “We had some rough parts of the season and we started playing really good baseball towards the end. I think that says a lot about the young men in that dugout. Some great leadership from our seniors to get us to the regional championship.”

Lawrence 020 000 0 — 2 8 3

Manhattan 013 402 x — 10 11 1

W — Carson Marsh. L — Gavin Greenwood.

2B — Chance Andrade, MAN. 3B — Nicholas Wohler, Ed Scott, MAN.

LHS highlights — Alexander Guy, 3-for-3, RBI, stolen base; Joe Harms, 1-for-2, run, walk; Hank Dobson, 1-for-2.

Lawrence 000 300 0 — 3 3 1

Washburn 000 000 2 — 2 7 2

W — Devin Lauts. L — Zachary Ebert. S — Austin Quick.

2B — Joe Harms, LHS; Jadyn Henderson, WR.

LHS highlights — Lauts, 6.2 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; Quick, RBI, 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K; Andrew Stewart 1-for-3, run; Braden Solko, 1-for-3, run, stolen base; Harms, 1-for-3, RBI.