Free State ends softball slump with sweep

Going into the Tuesday’s home doubleheader against Leavenworth, Free State High’s softball team had yet to win a game. The Pioneers had a zero in the win column as well.

It was Free State that gave its crowd something to cheer about, as the Firebirds swept the Pioneers, 1-0 and 10-0.

Neither team put up impressive stats in Game One.

“We just didn’t see the ball very well,” Free State coach Pam Pine said.

The Pioneers (0-8) managed two hits, and the Firebirds (2-4) weren’t much better off with three hits.

Two of those three hits gave Free State its first win. With runners on third and first with one out in the bottom of the seventh, junior center fielder Lacey Baxter smacked a single up the middle for the 1-0 win.

Senior first baseman Meika Potter had singled to left field in the previous at bat.

“We came down to the seventh, and they had two good hits,” Leavenworth coach Amy Sloan said.

Free State sophomore Felicia Freeman (1-2) tossed a one-hitter.

In the second game, Free State sophomore Ashley Wagner (1-2) shut out the Pioneers on five hits. She also was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a triple in the sixth inning that ended the game on the mercy rule.

Free State finished with 14 hits, and Leavenworth had nine errors.

“It feels good to bust out of our shell and win once in a while,” Wagner said. “We haven’t had the bats go real well so far, so its a good change for us.”

The Firebirds will play Olathe South at 5 tonight at the Olathe District Activities Center.

Free State 1, Leavenworth 0

Leavenworth 000 000 0 — 0 1 3

Free State 000 000 1 — 1 3 1

W– Freeman (1-2). L– Stephanie Files.

Free State 10, Leavenworth 0

Leavenworth 000 000 0 — 0 5 9

Free State 000 410 5 — 10 14 1

W — Wagner (1-2). L — Files.