Although Free State High’s softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Olathe South on Thursday at FSHS and dropped to 0-8, coach Pat Pine’s players made progress.

The Firebirds hit the ball with more power than they have shown so far and grabbed their first lead of the season in the second inning of the second game.

“We’ve been hitting the ball a lot harder and trying to gain confidence at the plate and we’re doing that,” Pine said after 9-3 and 12-5 losses. “I say this every time, but we are getting better and we’re doing some things right and getting some confidence. Just baby steps, baby steps, and hopefully we’ll beat some people.”

Olathe South led 1-0 after the top half of the first inning, but Free State countered with Amy Vormehr’s triple and Kasey Asher’s RBI double.

The lead was short lived though as Olathe South (4-2) scored a run with back-to-back doubles in the third inning and added five more in the fourth.

The Falcons took an early lead in the second game also with a run in the second, but Free State answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning for their first lead this year.

The Firebirds will try to pick up their first victory with a doubleheader Tuesday at Leavenworth, the team’s first road trip.

Olathe South 9, Free State 3

Olathe South 101 500 2 Â 9 11 0

Free State 100 001 1 Â 3 10 3

W – Megan Grisell (2-1). L – Felicia Freeman (0-4).

Free State highlights – Amy Vormehr, 2-4, 3B, run; Ashley Wagner, 2-2; Lauren Abney, 2-4, 3B, run; Kasey Asher, 3-4, 2B, RBI.

Olathe South 12, Free State 5

Olathe South 014 123 1 Â 12 10 3

Free State 040 000 1 Â 5 7 5

W – Grisell (3-1). L – Wagner (0-4).

Free State highlights – Wagner, 2-4, 2 3B; Jenny Gwaltney, 1-2, 3B, run.