Going into their respective May 18 regional playoffs, both the baseball and softball programs came off underwhelming, regular seasons.

However, the beauty of the playoff game is just that: despite any regular season accolades or achievements, everything is thrown out the window. It’s win or go home.

Girls softball went into regionals yesterday with a 9-11 record, and were seeded sixth in their bracket, earning them a face-off against third seed Olathe North.

Sophomore Zoe Brewer started the game pitching for the Lions, and threw a gem throw five innings, allowing no runs and even carrying a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning.

Strong defense from the Lions early on kept the game within reach. The RBI single from senior Amber Flummerfelt, who drove in fellow senior Samantha Mills, even had the underdog Lions in a position to manage the game into the final few innings.

The Lions suffered a breakdown in the bottom of the sixth, allowing consecutive home runs from Olathe North, which ended up being the difference in the 4-1 game, sending the Lions home early.

Boys baseball found more success, managing to pass by fourth seeded Olathe Northwest, sending the fifth seeded Lions into the regional championship against number one seed Freestate.

The Lions victory came off the heels of a solid outing from sophomore Ethan Taylor on the pitching mound and a potent LHS offense, having three different players record two or more hits, leading to the decisive 5-2 victory in the Regional Semifinal.

The bats for the Lions quieted in the nightcap of the regional yesterday, hosted at Freestate’s baseball stadium.

Facing off against veteran left-handed pitcher Trevor Munsch, an Oklahoma University signee, the Lions struggled all night to create scoring opportunities, and squandered those they did create.

The Firebirds got off to a quick start, sending their first two batters on base before a single up the middle squared both of the runners, pitching the Lions into a 2-0 deficit early on.

The starting pitcher for the Lions, senior Daonte’ Lowery, was not shaken, and went on to hold the Firebirds hitless for the rest of his shift, handing the ball off to closer Brad Kincaid, also a senior, who closed the game out for the Lions.

The Lions over the course of the game never advanced a runner past second past, and were stifled each and every chance they had to put the game into question.

The two early runs from the beginning of the game proved to be the difference, and the Lions fell 2-0, so desperately close to a trip to the state tournament. The Lions had a season of many high and lows and finished the year 9-13, regional runner-ups.