Olathe ? Free State High’s baseball team dropped its first game of the season Thursday, losing 13-11 to Olathe South at Olathe District Activities Center, but the Firebirds aren’t going to dwell on it.

After all, there’s a lot of baseball yet to be played.

“The thing about the game of baseball is it’s meant to be played everyday,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “What the game ensures is consistency. You’re gonna lose games and you gotta bounce back.”

FSHS (13-1), Class 6A’s top ranked team and ranked sixth in USA Today’s Midwest regional poll, didn’t get any breaks against the Falcons and made too many mental gaffes in the process.

“We walked seven, hit a guy and had three errors,” Hill said. “You’re not gonna go on the road in the Sunflower League and give 11 freebies to a good team and win.”

The Firebirds had plenty of offense — seniors Matt Berner, Matt Lane and Chris Coleman and junior Ryne Price all had multiple-hit games, including a home run from Lane — but it wasn’t enough.

Price was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and an RBI.

Jake Hoover was saddled with the loss, his first of the season against two wins.

FSHS gets a chance to start another streak Saturday against Lawrence High at FSHS field.

“We’ve had a bull’s-eye on our chest for four weeks, with the state ranking and even the national ranking,” Hill said. “That’s where good programs want to be and we relish that. To reel off 13 in a row, that’s not easy to do. Given the teams that we face, it’s really not easy to do.”

Olathe South 13, Free State 11

FSHS 012 044 0 — 11 14 3

OS 020 623 x — 13 12 0

W–Consemiger. L–Jake Hoover (2-1).

FSHS Highlights: Matt Berner 3-for-5, RBI; Ryne Price 3-for-4, 2B, 3B, RBI; Chris Coleman 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Matt Lane 2-for-3, RBI, HR.

FSHS Record: 13-1. Next: Saturday against Lawrence High at FSHS Field.