photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior pitcher JJ Dos Santos starts to throw in a 4-3 win over Brandon Valley on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Lawrence.

Senior JJ Dos Santos was a little nervous as he stepped up to the mound against Brandon Valley on Saturday — it was his first time pitching a varsity game for Lawrence.

“After I got in the zone, I was just trying to throw strikes, trying to get the batter out and not focusing on anything other than getting the team the win,” Dos Santos said. “It’s a lot of fun to play baseball with these guys, with coach (Adam) Green. It means a lot to come out here and throw some strikes.”

In his two innings on the mound, Dos Santos allowed two hits and two walks while throwing two strikeouts. He finished with one earned run and a save. The Lions held on to win 4-3 against the Lynx.

“I’m definitely going to remember this outing,” Dos Santos said. “It was a little nerve-racking, but being with the guys is just fun.”

There are only four seniors on the Lawrence baseball team, two of whom are pitchers, and both pitched on Saturday. Senior Brice Schwada started and threw five innings before Dos Santos threw the final two innings. Green believes those two work well to complement each other. Dos Santos can carve out a role as a relief pitcher for the team and help secure wins in a challenging league.

“Brice got them off-balance, and that’s where JJ can be effective in that pairing moving forward,” Green said. “Getting those two guys — two seniors — on the mound for a win against a good Brandon Valley team… I’m pleased with that.”

Dos Santos fell behind the count a few times and faced some tough situations. His first two batters reached on a single and an error. He threw six balls against three strikes in those two at-bats.

Dos Santos fought back, and against the third batter he faced, he only threw strikes and got his first strikeout. After a walk, he threw his second strikeout, and the defense provided the third out on a pop fly to first baseman Hudson Hardesty.

“I’m usually calm under pressure, and I can’t let it get to me,” Dos Santos said. “It’s just like any other batter. I have to treat it like every other time I’ve pitched before.”

The next time Dos Santos stepped up to the mound was in the top of the seventh, with the Lions three outs away from a win. He walked the first batter before the defense got the next batters out with a flyout to right fielder Josh Galbreath and a groundout to Dos Santos.

The Lynx put the Lions in trouble with a double with two outs in the seventh, but a groundout to third baseman Ethan Curry ended the game.

Dos Santos said he’s more of a contact pitcher. Those groundouts and popouts that closed the game are equally a result of Dos Santos’s pitching as it is the infielders making a play.

“I’m best at getting weak contact,” Dos Santos said. “I’m trying to command my curveball. I know I’m not a strikeout pitcher, so I just have to get guys out by trusting my defense. I know they’ve got my back.”

Dos Santos spent a lot of time getting extra pitching practice in preparation for his senior year and getting to pitch on varsity. He worked most on consistency while developing his different pitches while balancing school and preparing for the basketball season.

“It’s a little tough to balance, but it’s just about finding time in the week for everything I’ve got to do,” Dos Santos said. “I set aside specific days for basketball, school and baseball. It’s fun to do all of this.”

As a senior, Dos Santos’s time with the Lions is quickly coming to an end. He finished his final basketball season — with his dad, Julio, as an assistant coach — and the baseball season is in full gear. Dos Santos is enjoying all the moments he can with his team before he finishes his career with the Lions.

“Being in the locker room with them, being on the field with them… I get to practice with them every day, talk to them every day, and play baseball,” he said. “It’s fun to be with the guys.”