So long, string of 10-run victories.

The Free State High baseball team took a night off from the run-rule slaughters after securing three in a row. On the opening day of the River City Baseball Festival, Free State beat Kansas City (Mo.) Winnetonka, 12-3 — merely a nine-run rout.

Of course, a nine-run victory isn’t a whole lot different from a 10-run victory, and the bottom line is that FSHS has won five in a row, outscoring its opponents 57-12.

Thursday’s blowout at Hoglund Ballpark merely was another extension of the awesome stretch of Free State performances. The big three once again were present — sound defense, timely hitting and good pitching.

“The good high school baseball teams usually have two of them going,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “When you have two of them going, you feel like you can win.

“In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had all three facets going. When that happens, you ride it out for all it’s worth.”

Free State (9-2) is doing just that. Thursday, the sparkling facet was on the mound, where the Firebirds had a strong effort from sophomore Travis Blankenship. The southpaw pitched five innings of one-hit ball before tiring a little in the sixth. He ended up striking out six and giving up just three hits in earning the win.

“Ryne Price called a good game,” Blankenship said. “I just tried to pitch ground balls and get guys out.”

The defense behind Blankenship also played well, committing just one error.

Free State High's Brett Lisher (14) avoids the tag of Kansas City (Mo.) Winnetonka's Ben Tarr to steal second base. The Firebirds won their first game of the River City Baseball Festival, 12-3, Thursday night at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I was very pleased with Travis Blankenship,” Hill said. “He did a nice job. He was effective. He stayed down in the zone, and when he does that, he puts a little life on the ball and makes something happen.”

And, like most Free State pitchers, Blankenship took comfort in knowing he’d have plenty of run support behind him. The Firebirds led just 1-0 after three innings, but the fourth inning blew the door off the hinges. Price jump started an offense always ready to explode by crushing a solo home run to deep right field to lead off the fourth.

It was about the only decent pitch Price saw the whole night. His other three plate appearances all were walks, including an intentional pass in the sixth.

Unfortunately for Winnetonka, the next four batters behind Price in the order all had at least one hit and one RBI on the night. Sophomore Brett Lisher was 2-for-4, sophomore Scott Heitshusen was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, senior Jake Hoover was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and senior Keaton Mishler was 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Truth be told, pitching around Price isn’t all that effective sometimes, as Winnetonka learned.

“The interesting thing is, we have good hitters all around him,” Hill said. “Sometimes you can’t avoid him.”

6Sports video: River City tournament gives Firebirds chance to soar

The Firebirds will try to continue their hot stretch today, when they play St. Louis Chaminade Prep at 5:30 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark in the second day of the River City Festival.

Free State 12,

Kansas City (Mo.) Winnetonka 3

Winnetonka 000 003 0 — 3 3 0

Free State 001 245 X — 12 12 1

W–Travis Blankenship. L–Pete Peters.

2B–Winnetonka: de la Paz; Free State: Keaton Mishler 2, Jake Hoover, Robby Price. HR–Free State: Ryne Price (3).

FSHS highlights: Mishler 3-for-4, 2 2Bs, 3 RBIs; Hoover 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Travis Blankenship 5 IP, 3 H, 6 K.