The Free State baseball team gather for a meeting with head coach Mike Hill in a game against Sioux Falls Washington on March 22 at Free State High School.

For the second consecutive night, Free State’s baseball team secured an 8-1 win over a Sunflower League foe.

FSHS (16-3, No. 1 in Class 6A) scored five runs in the first two innings en route to a comfortable win over Shawnee Mission North at home Thursday night. It was enough for Free State to secure a Sunflower League title outright.

The Firebirds collected five hits as a team, giving up four to the opposition and allowing a run in the top of the second.

Camden Karlin, Creighton Cordova, Colter Maldonado, Jaxson Webb and Cole Burenheide all tallied a hit. Peyton Sparks and Webb were both credited with two RBIs. David Stuart threw five innings, allowing one run off four hits to go along with six strikeouts and one walk. Jake Zenger pitched two shutout frames in relief with three strikeouts.

Free State will take on Lawrence at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Hoglund Ballpark.

FSHS softball secures league crown

Free State’s softball team also did enough to win the Sunflower League.

FSHS defeated Olathe North by a 6-2 margin on the road to notch the league title. The Firebirds, who are the defending 2018 state champions, have won five games in a row since dropping a doubleheader on April 19.

Morgan Leslie was the team’s winning pitcher. Sara Roszak went 3-for-4, while Jasmine Brixius notched two doubles. Maci Miles went 2-of-3 at the dish with two RBIs, and Lauryn Jones drove in two runs off a double.

Free State (15-2) will play host to Lansing for a doubleheader at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Lions claim narrow victory

One night after its win streak was snapped, Lawrence’s baseball team bounced back with a narrow victory.

Lawrence (13-5, No. 7 in Class 6A) edged Shawnee Mission East, 1-0, Thursday night on the road. Senior Garrett Romero scored the lone run of the contest with a triple in the top of the fourth, which plated Hank Dobson.

Dobson tallied two of the team’s three hits on the day, both of which were singles. Jake Miller tossed seven scoreless frames, allowing only four hits. He threw 92 pitches, striking out three batters and walking none.

LHS will play host to Park Hill at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

LHS softball bounces back

One night after being shut out by its crosstown rival, LHS softball recorded a 7-6 win over Shawnee Mission East.

The Lions were the visitors on their home turf, since the game was originally supposed to be at the Lancers. The game took place at LHS due to wet field conditions, however. Jesse Cox allowed two earned runs over four innings. Angelina Harjo pitched the final three frames, striking out five batters.

Karly Johnson tallied three singles for LHS, including the go-ahead knock. Kate Williams had two hits and two RBIs. Chayse Burghart recorded a double and scored the game-winning run.

LHS (3-14) will play a doubleheader at Blue Valley on Monday.

FSHS girls soccer notches 2-0 win

Free State’s girls soccer team will be heading into the City Showdown with some momentum.

FSHS claimed a 2-0 victory over Gardner-Edgerton Thursday night, which marked its second win of the season. The Firebirds scored a goal in each half. Victoria Flores netted the first-half score, while Sydni Beeley tallied a goal in the second half.

Free State (2-8-2) will travel to Lawrence at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Firebirds in third with one leg left

After two legs at the Sunflower League Championship, Free State’s boys golf team is in third place.

Two days after a second-place finish in the first leg, FSHS claimed eighth with a 311 team score at the Olathe East Invitational Wednesday afternoon. Lawrence High finished 21st out of 22 teams with a 441. Blue Valley North won the event with a 300, while Blue Valley Northwest finished second (301) and Blue Valley West took third (302).

Andrew Park placed fifth on the individual leaderboard with a 71, while Landon Berquist took ninth with a 73. Dylan Sommer came in 33rd with a 78. Ross Brungardt was Lawrence’s top finisher with an 83, which was good for 58th.

The Olathe North Invite, which is the final leg of the Sunflower League Championship, is slated to take place on Monday.

Sunflower League standings through two legs

1. SM East 624; 2. Olathe East 633; 3. Free State 637; 4. Olathe West 644; 5. Olathe Northwest 648; 6. Shawnee Mission South 685; 7. Olathe South 692; 8. SM Northwest 705; 9. Gardner-Edgerton 771; 10. Olathe North 774; 11. SM West 845; 12. LHS 907; 13. SM North 1035.

LHS athletes sign NLI

A trio of Lawrence High female athletes, who have left a memorable legacy, signed their national letter of intent Wednesday afternoon at LHS.

Baylee Unruh signed to compete in track at Kansas State University. She helped the volleyball team win a state title last fall and contributed to the track team winning a state crown last spring. Josie Hickerson, the program’s record-holder in pole vault, signed to compete in that very event at Washburn University.

Hannah Stewart, a three-sport sensation, chose to pursue rowing at K-State. Stewart played volleyball, basketball and still competes in track for the Lions. Stewart has been a key part of two state championship-winning programs with LHS.