photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Hudson Hardesty shuffles toward third base in a 12-2 loss to Mill Valley on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Shawnee.

SHAWNEE — Lawrence baseball’s season came to an end on Tuesday with a 12-2 loss to Mill Valley in the regional semifinal round.

The Lions fell behind early, relinquishing six runs in the first two innings, and weren’t able to keep the Jaguars within 10 runs by five innings into the game. Lawrence finished the season 7-19.

“I won’t remember them for this game,” Lawrence coach Adam Green said. “I’m proud of our season. I know our record isn’t what anybody wanted, but I am happy with some of the performances for this year, and I feel like we’re building a foundation.”

Right fielder Brady Wollesen started the game with a leadoff walk, and he stole second base before pitcher Hudson Hardesty’s popout in the following at-bat. Wollesen was put out at third base on a fielder’s choice that put pitcher Nate Kress on first base with two outs. First baseman Jonah Stutler singled to put two runners on base, but the Lions were retired with a strikeout in the next at-bat.

Hardesty started on the mound for Lawrence and started the game with a strikeout. The Jaguars doubled for their first hit of the game, but a flyout to Wollesen at right field gave the Jaguars two outs. A walk and an RBI single brought in the first run of the game, but Hardesty struck out the next batter to close the inning.

Mill Valley retired the side in order in the top of the second and scored five runs in the bottom of the frame. A single and an error to start put runners on base, but the Lions got the next two outs with a strikeout and a groundout to Stutler at first. The Jaguars scored two runs on a double, and back-to-back home runs gave Mill Valley the six-run lead. A lineout to Jaxon Becker at center field stopped the run with two runners on base.

Hardesty singled in the top of the third but was the only Lion to get on base, while the Jaguars added to their lead in the bottom of the inning.

After a lineout to Becker started the third, the Jaguars got back-to-back singles before an intentional walk loaded the bases against Lawrence relief pitcher Jonas Hohman. A sacrifice fly brought one runner in, and a two-RBI single got the Jaguars a 9-0 lead. Shortstop Gavin Taylor got the third out on a ground ball.

Lawrence got on the board with a run in the fourth. Third baseman Brandt Edmonds singled with one out, and Taylor followed him up with a single. Becker grounded out for the Lions’ second out, but the play moved both runners into scoring position. On a wild pitch, Edmonds ran home for the run before a strikeout retired the Lions.

Green was pleased with how the team battled in the game, despite the early runs allowed. It’s been a common theme for the Lions, that no matter the score, the team has found ways to put together some runs late to work their way back into games.

“This has been a group that can push teams to a 5-3 game, not a 12-2 game,” Green said. “We just have a small margin of error.”

Mill Valley got the run back in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff single set up a run on a groundout to third. A second groundout ended the inning with the Lions down 10-1.

Second baseman Logan Harris walked to start the fifth, and Wollesen singled to put two runners on base. Hardesty grounded into a fielder’s choice at second base, but an error on the throw to first allowed Hardesty to reach safely, and for Harris to score a run. The Jaguars kept the Lions at bay with two outs in the following two at-bats.

Kress came in to pitch the fifth inning for Lawrence, in which the Jaguars built their lead in order to activate the five-inning run rule. The Jaguars started with two walks before wearing a pitch that loaded the bases. A groundout to second base brought in one run, but Kress threw a strikeout to give the Lions two outs. On the third pitch in the following at-bat, a ball got past catcher Devin Foster, allowing a 12th run to score that ended the game.

“I’m proud of our senior class,” Green said. “I didn’t want to send them out like this. It’s a brutal game, things like this can happen. I’m proud of all of them.”

Green said the summer is an important time for getting better. While the team has a lot of multi-sport athletes that will spend much of the summer preparing for football, the baseball reps the team gets will make a sizable difference during the next season.

“We’ve got a nice group of seniors-to-be who are bought in,” Green said. “I think this summer is going to be important for us. Our freshman group is a core group that we’re going to count on a lot … We’ve got work.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence second baseman Logan Harris reaches first base on a walk in a 12-2 loss to Mill Valley on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Shawnee.