Matt Lane

Free State

Class: Senior

Sport: Baseball

The week: Lane has been the Firebirds’ horse all season, but Tuesday he turned into their unquestioned ace. The 6-foot-3 right-hander pitched a nine-inning shutout in a 2-0 win against Olathe East. Lane (6-0) allowed just two hits, no walks and struck out nine batters in tying Brett Bogard’s 1999 record for wins in a season. Oh yeah, Lane, who sports a 1.95 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 43 innings, also came through in last Friday’s 11-10 win against Shawnee Mission East when he rapped a two-out RBI single, capping a 3-for-4 day.

Comment: “He was fantastic,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “Any level of baseball where you can pitch nine innings and not let anyone get past second base, that’s pretty incredible. When things got tough, he responded in kind.”

Megan Ramsey

Ottawa

Class: Freshman

Sport: Softball

The week: Ramsey has been a boon for the Cyclones’ softball program. They haven’t had a winning record in the last five years, but are off to an 8-5 start — with Ramsey posting a 6-3 record. Monday, she struck out eight of the nine batters she faced in a three inning 15-0 win against Kansas City Washington, and Wednesday struck out 14 batters and allowed just three hits in a 2-0 win against Shawnee Miege, a team the Cyclones hadn’t scored a run against in three seasons. Ramsey has 96 strikeouts and only five walks in 54 and a third innings, with a .77 ERA. For good measure, she’s batting .512.

Comment: “For a freshman, she is so composed on the mound,” OHS coach Renee Malburg said. “I watched her play over the summer and she has been what we expected. She’s throwing the ball so well, right now.”