photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior third baseman Maddy Crawford follows through on a hit in an 11-1 win over Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Lawrence.

On the Lawrence softball team’s senior night, the Lions finished their Sunflower League schedule with an 11-1 run-rule win over Shawnee Mission North, in which every senior recorded at least one hit.

Senior shortstop Harper Dye, senior third baseman Maddy Crawford, senior catcher Lillian Spinelli, freshman outfielder Kate Neilson and senior outfielder Reese Dannevik all had two hits. Senior first baseman Lydia Folks had one, as did sophomore pitcher Julia Norris and senior outfielder Payge Cain.

“That’s usually a team that beat us in previous years,” Folks said, “so it felt really good to mercy-rule them.”

The senior class is a special one for coach Mike Byrn. They’ve been with him since he took over as the head coach, and they’ve worked hard to build a winning culture at Lawrence. With 17 wins and one game left in the regular season, the seniors have been a monumental part of this year’s success.

“I’m blessed to be a part of it and to be a part of their journey,” Byrn said. “It’s exciting to see them grow. They want to be coached — they want to grow.”

Norris started in the circle and allowed five hits and one walk against one strikeout in six innings. The Lions started the game with three groundouts in the top of the first, while the Bison managed a double.

At the plate, the Lions got two walks before Spinelli scored the first run on an RBI single. The Lions loaded the bases with a walk in the next at-bat, but a groundout after the walk ended the inning.

The Bison put two runners on base in the second with an error at first base and a single with two outs, but Norris recovered a ground ball and made the final out to keep the Lions up a run. Dye was the only Lion to get on base in the bottom of the second, and she was caught stealing for the third out of the inning.

Folks said the team’s ability to play through defensive mistakes has been important. After the error, the team was able to stay focused and rebound without letting it lead to further defensive mistakes.

“We have defensive errors almost every game, and not letting that affect our batting is important for us,” Dye said.

Shawnee Mission North again started the inning with a single and an error, but the Lions secured three straight outs to leave two runners stranded.

The bottom of the third was the biggest of the night for the Lions with five runs. Freshman second baseman Zoey Barber walked at the start of the inning, and Crawford doubled in the next at-bat. After an out, Spinelli walked to load the bases. Neilson singled to bring Crawford home, and Norris doubled, which brought two runs in.

It was important for the Lions to see some hits find gaps. The team had gone through a little bit of a hitting slump, but the Lions burst through on Wednesday. Cain said the team compacted bad at-bats with other at-bats and that talking it through with each other has helped them find some more success. With one game left in the regular season, the Lions found some hitting momentum at an opportune time.

“It’s very important to carry this into the playoffs,” Crawford said. “We hit that hitting lull, and we’re just starting to bring ourselves back. To carry our hitting into regionals would help us start really well.”

Cain walked to load the bases again, and Dannevik singled to bring in a fifth run. Dye’s double in the next at-bat brought in a sixth run, although Cain was called out at home plate for the second out. A popout in the next at-bat closed the inning.

The Bison scored their only run of the game in the top of the fourth. They hit two singles and walked with one out before a flyout brought a runner home after tagging up on third. Crawford caught the final at third to end the half-inning.

Lawrence added another run in the fourth on a double from Neilson with two outs. The Lions retired the first three batters in the top of the fifth and added three runs when they returned to the plate. Dye hit an RBI double with one out, and Crawford hit a two-run home run. They left two runners on base when the Bison caught the third out of the inning.

The Lawrence defense started with two groundouts before Norris allowed a runner on base with a hit-by-pitch. Freshman center fielder Lucy Juelsgaard caught the third out of the sixth.

Needing one run to win in the sixth, the Lions finished the game with two seniors. Cain singled with one out, and Dannevik tripled in the following at-bat to bring Cain home and secure the win.

The Lions have one last make-up game against Blue Valley at home on Friday before the playoffs begin. At 17-8, the Lions are in the hunt to host a regional if things break their way in the final days of the regular season.

“Our growth as a team and as a program is incomparable to previous years,” Dye said. “That’s just such a great feeling, as a senior, to end on that high note.

“I feel like we’ve really come out and surprised some people, and I don’t think we’re done doing that yet.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Sophomore pitcher Julia Norris throws a pitch in an 11-1 win over Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior first baseman Lydia Folks touches home plate in an 11-1 win over Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Kate Neilson reaches home plate in an 11-1 win over Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore pitcher Julia Norris tosses the ball to first for an out in an 11-1 win over Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Lawrence.