photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence coach Adam Green talks with his team before the top of the seventh in a 4-3 loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Lawrence.

Lawrence baseball’s two-run lead slipped away against Blue Valley Northwest as the Lions fell 4-3 on Saturday for the fourth loss in a week.

“We want to establish an identity of toughness where you’re going to have to play well to beat us, and I don’t think we did that today,” coach Adam Green said. “We have to teach them … toughness is when you have a bad at-bat and you don’t take it out to the field. That’s baseball tough. We didn’t do that.”

The Lions had a strong defensive start with pitcher Brady Wollesen, but a few offensive errors hurt the team. The Lions retired the side in the top of the first inning and started with two hits and a walk to load the bases in the bottom of the first before a strikeout and a double play stranded the three runners.

In the second inning, the Lions allowed one walk and no hits as Wollesen threw his first strikeout. Jaxon Becker managed a single in the bottom of the second, but the Lions weren’t able to bring home a run. The third inning was more of the same as the Lions quickly retired the Huskies but weren’t able to score a run despite getting three runners on base.

The Huskies scored the first run after a hit-by-pitch and a double started the fourth inning. Two popouts and a tag closed the frame, with the Huskies holding the one run. At the plate, the Lions bounced back and managed two runs. Becker started with a free base after being hit by a pitch, and he later stole second base. After two strikeouts, Ethan Curry drove Becker home with a double, and Tristan Prier tripled to score the second Lawrence run of the inning. A strikeout ended the fourth with the Lions up 2-1.

Curry’s batting was one of the bright spots in the game for Green. He finished with two hits in four at-bats.

Wollesen threw two more strikeouts in the top of the fifth and collected the groundout for the third out. Josh Galbreath reached first on an error to start the bottom of the fifth and reached second after Wollesen ground out. Galbreath reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder’s choice. Two strikeouts closed the inning, but the Lions held a two-run lead.

The Huskies took the lead in the top of the sixth with three runs. Their inning started with two errors, bringing leadoff hitter Grayson McFall to third base. A groundout brought him home on the next at-bat. Following a strikeout from Wollesen, the Huskies got on base with five walks, the latter two bringing in the game-tying and the game-winning run.

Logan Sheldon came in late in the inning for the final walk and the third out, a line drive to Curry at third base. Wollesen left after 5.2 innings and five strikeouts with only one earned run.

“Brady Wollesen pitched his butt off today,” Green said. “He deserved better than that. He was getting up to 85 (pitches) and wasn’t himself, so we put in Logan Sheldon, and that kid is a competitive wrestler. We know we can put him in and trust him.”

The Lions didn’t get anyone on base in the sixth inning but didn’t allow any runs in the top of the seventh. McFall walked for the Huskies, and an error the next at-bat brought him to second, but the Lions closed out with a popout and a double play.

Needing a run to stay alive, Galbreath got on base with one out after being hit by a pitch. The next at-bat, Logan Harris hit the ball right to third baseman Brayden Jones’s glove, and a throw to first to force Galbreath out ended the game.

Harris has been one of the players between varsity and JV this season, and Green has been impressed with his work ethic. It was his second appearance for the varsity Lions and his second at-bat.

“He’s a kid who we said, ‘You’re going to have to earn your playing time,’ and he’s doing it and it shows,” Green said. “The way he goes about his daily business should be an example to everyone in our program because he is just grinding.”

The loss was the fourth in a row for the Lions, all within a week. Green said it’s important for the team to understand the urgency for its small senior class to play hard every game and keep building toward the postseason.

“When we can do that, we’re going to be a tough out at the end,” Green said. “A state championship isn’t won on April 12. In athletics, sometimes you have to go through some tough times. This is a part of it.”

Lawrence will host Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday before going on the road for Shawnee Mission West on Thursday and Leavenworth on Saturday.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Brady Wollesen throws to first in a 4-3 loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence first baseman watches a the ball before making the out in a 4-3 loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence right fielder Josh Galbreath throws his bat to the dugout after a walk in a 4-3 loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence second baseman Logan Harris swings and hits a foul ball in a 4-3 loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence second baseman Logan Sheldon throws to first base in a 4-3 loss to Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Lawrence.