photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence second baseman Logan Sheldon, left, and Ethan Curry watch the pitch in a 10-1 loss to Blue Valley Southwest on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Lawrence.

Some early trouble on the mound put the Lawrence baseball team in a 10-0 hole early to Blue Valley Southwest, which was too much to overcome in a 10-1 home loss on Saturday.

“We played pretty clean defensively after the third (inning), but we can’t put ourselves in a hole like that,” coach Adam Green said. “That’s not us.”

JJ Dos Santos started on the mound for the Lions and began with a hit-by-pitch and a walk. The Timberwolves got on the board with an RBI single and their second run on a flyout in the next at-bat. Two batters later, the Timberwolves scored their third run of the inning on an error.

The Lions got on offense with an out following the error but only managed one single from left fielder Tristan Prier before ending the inning.

At the plate, the Timberwolves collected six hits in the second inning and two walks while scoring seven runs, including four with two outs. The Lions finally got the third out on a groundout to Hudson Hardesty on first base.

Through their first two innings, the Timberwolves were aggressive on passed balls. That put the Lions’ defense out of sync and contributed to the 10 runs early in the game.

“They only outhit us by three, but if you walk and you hit-by-pitch that team, they’re going to make you pay,” Green said. “We say all the time in our program: Hits won’t beat us, walks and hit-by-pitch will beat us.”

The Lions struggled at the plate and didn’t get anyone on base in the bottom of the second.

Brady Wollesen pitched the third inning, throwing two strikeouts as the defense retired the side without allowing anyone on base.

“When you’re down 10 after two, that’s always going to be tough to how you’re going to approach the rest of the game,” Green said. “I thought Brady came in and did a nice job of getting us back on track and making it a baseball game.”

With a bit of life after Wollesen’s pitching, the Lions’ bats found some success in the third inning. Logan Sheldon got the team’s second hit of the day with one out, and third baseman Ethan Curry followed him up with a walk. Prier hit a single, bringing Sheldon home to put the Lions on the board. Hardesty singled after that — making him the fourth-straight Lion to get on base — but two strikeouts closed the inning with the bases loaded.

Wollesen and the defense quickly retired the side again in the fourth inning as Wollesen threw only 10 pitches. Brandt Edmonds got on base for the Lions in the bottom of the fourth with one out, but a double play in the next at-bat ended the inning. Wollesen pitched his final inning in the fifth, throwing two strikeouts and only throwing seven pitches. He finished with five strikeouts in three innings with no walks or hits allowed.

Lawrence struggled to regain the offensive spark from the third inning, with no hits in the fifth or sixth innings. While on defense, Sheldon threw the final two innings, allowing only one walk with no hits or strikeouts.

“I couldn’t be prouder for the season (Sheldon) has had to this point this season,” Green said. “We know what we’re going to get from him on the mound.”

Needing nine runs to stay alive, Edmonds started the bottom of the seventh with a walk, but two strikeouts and a groundout in the next three at-bats ended the game.

Green said the Lions need to “develop more pitching depth,” which will require more time.

The Lions fell to 5-2 on the season and will have a few tough battles at home next week. They host Olathe South on Tuesday, Olathe North on Thursday and Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence second baseman Logan Sheldon slides back to first in a 10-1 loss to Blue Valley Southwest on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Brady Wollesen throws in a 10-1 loss to Blue Valley Southwest on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence shortstop Brandt Edmonds winds up to bat in a 10-1 loss to Blue Valley Southwest on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence center fielder Jaxon Becker swings at a pitch in a 10-1 loss to Blue Valley Southwest on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence catcher Devin Foster swings for a ball in a 10-1 loss to Blue Valley Southwest on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Lawrence.