The only thing sloppy about Free State High’s baseball field Tuesday night was the final tally on the scoreboard for Shawnee Mission South.

Strong afternoon showers didn’t wreak havoc on the diamond, but torrid hitting by the Firebirds certainly made things miserable for the Raiders.

Free State cranked out 14 hits, and Firebird Max Ellenbecker threw a one-hit shutout to lift Free State to its third straight run-rule victory with a 10-0 win in five innings at FSHS.

“We’re really pleased with the way we’re playing,” said Free State coach Mike Hill, whose team improved to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Sunflower League. “But like I told the kids, we can be better. They don’t give you trophies for what you do in the middle of April.”

If the Firebirds can keep up their recent tear, they certainly would seem to have a pretty good shot at a state title.

In the last four games, Free State has scored 45 runs. The Firebirds have racked up 42 hits in their three run-rule victories. And Ellenbecker has been solid in each of his last two starts, including a five-strikeout performance against the Raiders.

“I kind of knew I had a no-hitter going,” Ellenbecker said with a smile. “But it’s pretty easy to pitch knowing you have a sound defense to back you up.”

Or an offense that can score an insane amount of runs; the Firebirds are averaging 9.9 runs per game this season.

Senior Tyler Blankenship started things Tuesday with a triple to right-center in Free State’s first at-bat. Blankenship then put the Firebirds on the scoreboard when Anthony Dreiling hit a single through the left side of the infield.

Free State's Max Ellenbecker delivers a pitch against Shawnee Mission South. Ellenbecker tossed a one-hitter Tuesday at Free State.

Free State added another run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Dreiling. Paul Metzler drilled a line drive off the Raiders’ pitcher, which ricocheted into the outfield and plated two more Firebirds.

“We’re playing pretty good right now,” said sophomore Brett Lisher, who had the biggest hit of the day with a two-run home run to center field in the fourth. “But we can play better.”

The Firebirds did just that, scoring three more runs to end the game early in the fifth.

Another big day made Hill happy, but he again was quick to say his team hasn’t reached its pinnacle.

Tyler Blankenship, right, is greeted by Brett Lisher after Blankenship scored. Free State High defeated Shawnee Mission South in baseball, 10-0, Tuesday at FSHS.

“We can be better,” Hill said. “We’re excited, but we have to temper that with the realization that we want to be real good by the end of May.”

The Firebirds will get another opportunity to improve at 7 p.m. Thursday when they take on Kansas City (Mo.) Winnetonka in their first game of River City baseball festival Thursday at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark.

6Sports video: Weather no obstacle for Free State