Despite an 81-34 record through five seasons, three consecutive state touranments in his first three years and one state title, Lawrence High baseball coach David Petry will not return to the Lions next season.

LHS principal Steve Nilhas confirmed this evening that Petry will not be the Lions’ head coach in 2005, but would not comment on the nature of Petry’s dismissal. Also, in an e-mail to the Journal-World Newscenter, Petry acknowledged the move but made no further comment.

Petry took over Lawrence High’s baseball program in 2000 when Dirk Wedd left to become head football coach. In his first season, Petry won a state title, and he led the Lions to the state tournament each of the next two seasons. Each of the past two seasons, though, Lawrence High lost to Free State High in the regional finals

Nilhas said the position would be advertised as soon as possible.

6Sports director Kevin Romary and Journal-World prep sports writer Ryan Wood contributed to this story.