Despite some good moments pitching and hitting, the Lawrence Wranglers may not want to remember too much about their game against the Overland Park Titans, July 9, at the Prairie Center Complex in Olathe.

The Titans were too much for the 14-U AAA traveling team from Lawrence, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and going on to win, 13-4.

“We did not come mentally prepared to play baseball,” Wranglers Coach Bob Emerson said. “But we’ll rebound. Hopefully we’ll play better in the second game.”

And they did, beating another Gold Glove league opponent, the Kansas Mavericks, 6-4, in their double header.

After the Titans went up by three runs in the top of the first inning, it seemed that the Wranglers were ready to answer. Josh Herschell started things off with a ground ball single.

Brad Witmer then just missed a home run by a few feet, settling for a double off the left field wall. But both runners were stranded when the Titans center fielder made a shoestring catch to Rob Jordan Kircher of what looked like a sure hit.

The problems continued for the Wranglers in the second inning as starting pitcher Herschell and reliever Ryder Werts struggled with their control, issuing a number of free passes to the patient Titans hitters.

Preston Scheibler came in to pitch for the Wranglers, striking out Jordan Busch to end the inning.

But the damage had been done, and the Wranglers went into their half of the inning down 8-0.

Scheibler was effective in the third inning, retiring the Titans in order.

Wranglers player Travis Sanders connects on a pitch during an Olathe Gold Glove league game against the Overland Park Titans on July 9. the Titans beat the Wranglers 13-4 at the Prairie Center Complex in Olathe.

Herschell scored the Wranglers’ first run of the game in the third inning, coming in to score on a balk by Titans relief pitcher Andy Fitzsimmons.

Kircher than singled to drive in Witmer. Rand Elliott scored on a bases-loaded walk to Cody Lown, and the inning ended with the Titans up, 8-3.

The Titans continued to tack on runs, going up 13-3 in their half of the fourth inning. Scheibler, who was still pitching, made a nice play to end the inning, picking up a slow-rolling ground ball off the bat of Fitzsimmons, and firing to Lown at first base for the out.

The Wranglers added a run in the fifth and final inning when Lown singled to center field to drive in Werts.

Titans coach Troy Kendall was thrilled with his team’s performance leading up to next weekend’s regional tournament in Kansas City.

“The boys played the best I’ve seen them for a month,” Kendall said. “I think they’re all set and they’ll give the competition a run for their money.”

The Wranglers went off the next day to the AAA World Series in Tulsa, Okla., where they looked to continue their successful season and put the setback against the Titans behind them.