photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Vaughn Wells throws a pitch during the fifth inning of Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Shawnee Mission East on April 4, 2023, at Lawrence High School. Wells struck out three consecutive batters to end the inning.

A sixth-inning stand wasn’t enough to push the Lawrence High baseball team past Shawnee Mission East in a 6-3 loss on Tuesday, but LHS showed signs of its resiliency throughout junior righty Vaughn Wells’ first start of the season.

The Lions (2-4) scored two runs in the sixth after a remarkable recovery by Wells. After a shaky start, he composed himself for a strong fifth inning before letting senior righty Jack Pfeifer take over duties on the mound.

“We’ve got a lot of grit,” Wells said after Tuesday’s loss. “There’s a lot of toughness in this team. I feel like once we get moving, it’ll get going.”

Wells coughed up three runs on three hits in the first. A two-run double by SM East’s Carter Rose highlighted that inning, handing the Lancers a 3-0 lead early. Then, Cole Chinnock led off the second inning with a one-run homer to left field, tacking another run onto the Lancers’ lead.

LHS senior Nathan Blettner snapped back in the bottom of the second with a one-run homer of his own, blasting one to left and returning the Lions’ deficit to three runs. And the LHS defense kept SM East quiet in the third as Wells picked up his second strikeout of the night.

“(Blettner’s) got some of the best raw power we’ve had in a long time,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “We got some pretty good bats against a really good slider and fastball. Definitely pleased tonight with the better offense approach tonight versus where we were last week.”

Junior Tyson Grammer recorded the Lions’ lone hit of the third inning, a single. But when it was the Lancers’ turn to bat, they reclaimed their momentum. A triple by Chinnock and a double by Scotty Fegen extended SM East’s lead to 6-1.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, three walks by Weston Lyerly filled the bases for LHS. A groundout by Wells set up a double play, though, squashing the Lions’ scoring opportunity.

Wells’ fiery fifth inning featured three consecutive strikeouts — Jack Jones, Colton Sims and Anthony Mazza — to freeze the score in place. Pfeifer relieved Wells in the sixth and frustrated the Lancers at the plate once again, keeping LHS’ hopes of a rally alive.

Sammy Stoll singled his way on base in the bottom of the sixth, crossing home plate when Lyerly walked junior designated hitter Connor Nowak. Junior Koen Myers brought Nowak home for an RBI single, cutting SM East’s lead to 6-3 entering the seventh.

Pfeifer struck out SM East’s Joey Hoffman, picked off Fegen at first and struck out Matt Bolinger, but LHS wasn’t able to capitalize, because two strikeouts by Lancers closer Fegen and a groundout by Grammer sealed LHS’ fate.

Brad Stoll said that even though his team has lost four straight games, they’re taking steps that should result in more wins soon.

“Our program is not built on moral victories, but we fought back and it felt like we were never out of it,” Brad Stoll said.

Up next, LHS hosts Olathe South at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

BOX SCORE:

Shawnee Mission East 310 200 0 – 6 7 1

Lawrence High 010 002 0 – 3 6 0

W – Weston Lyerly; L – Vaughn Wells.

Highlights for LHS: Wells 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K; Blettner 1-for-2, HR, RBI; Myers 1-for-2, RBI, Stoll 1-for-3, 1 R, Nowak 0-for-2, 1 R.

LHS softball rolls past SM West

The Lawrence High softball team racked up 18 hits during its 13-2 road win over Shawnee Mission West on Tuesday night. The Lions (3-2) have now won three consecutive games.

Freshman starter Sophie Rowley allowed two runs on one hit through three innings, finishing with four strikeouts. Taking over the hill in the fourth, junior reliever Taylor Zeckser gave up an additional two hits, finishing with a walk and a strikeout.

At the plate, senior Hailey Ramirez went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a home run and a double. Fellow senior Maelee Folks finished 4-of-5 with three RBIs, with even more support coming from sophomore Maddie Crawford (3-for-3).

Up next, LHS hosts Olathe East at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Free State baseball slides by O-North

A wild pitch in extras pushed the Free State baseball team past Olathe North 2-1 on Tuesday.

After trailing by a single run since the fourth, the Firebirds (5-1) tied things up at 1-1 in the seventh on an RBI double by sophomore Wesley Cupps. Then, in the bottom of the eighth with one out, senior Jackson Waggoner pinch-ran for sophomore Andrew Zimmerschied at first before Waggoner advanced to home on a wild pitch.

Junior starter Tyler Jeffries allowed just four hits and a run, finishing with a walk and five strikeouts through eight innings. Cupps finished 2-for-3 at the plate with Free State’s lone RBI.

Next, Free State hosts Olathe Northwest at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Free State softball falls at O-South

The Free State softball team lost its road game against Olathe South 3-0 on Tuesday.

Senior Alena Velilla hit a double, but that was the only hit for the Firebirds (1-3). On the mound, junior starter Elsa Carrillo allowed just one earned run and struck out eight batters through six innings.

Up next, Free State hosts Shawnee Mission Northwest at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.