Somehow, it had that funny “it’s-going-to-be-OK” feel to it.

Here was the Free State High baseball team, winner of seven straight games, down 10-8 in the bottom of the seventh inning against Shawnee Mission West last month.

It should have screamed trouble. It should have been panic time in the first-base dugout.

But the batting order said it all. Robby and Ryne Price were coming up, and the Vikings weren’t going to win until after the Price brothers got their cuts.

Which, naturally, made the two-run SM West lead about as safe as sucker-punching a grizzly bear.

It was a storybook ending, of course, because that’s the kind of clutch hitting the Price brothers do so well. Ryne crushed a three-run home run — his second three-run dinger in two innings — scoring senior Tyler Blankenship, Robby and himself for the 11-10 victory. A mosh pit ensued at home plate, and the legend of the Price brothers grew.

“Whether it’s running the bases or using the glove, or, obviously, swinging the bat,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said, “they’ll find a way to beat you.”

Friday is the start of the Kansas Class 6A state baseball tournament at Hoglund Ballpark, and this weekend is the swan song for the potent prep duo known in these parts simply as “the Price brothers.”

Robby has two more years of smooth fielding and clutch hitting left as Free State’s shortstop, but Ryne’s done, off to Kansas University to provide a powerful stick for his father, KU coach Ritch Price, and to play alongside older brother Ritchie, KU’s shortstop.

With sluggers like Blankenship, Brett Lisher, Scott Hetishusen and Paul Metzler mashing the ball this year, Free State’s batting order would be loaded without Ryne and Robby.

Free State High standouts Ryne Price, right, and Robbie Price have had quite an impact on Firebird baseball since arriving in Lawrence. The Price brothers, sons of Kansas University baseball coach Ritch Price, have helped Free State advance to the Kansas state tournament for the second straight season.

But with them, it’s capable of dropping double-digit runs on a bad day, and with a little pitching (which Ryne occasionally does) and sound defense (which Robby consistently does), it’s awfully tough to top the Firebirds. Their 19-3 record heading into Friday’s 11 a.m. state tournament showdown with Blue Valley West proves it.

Growing up

The Price brothers’ story began when Ritch was a junior-college coach in California. The three boys — Ritchie two years older than Ryne, Ryne two years older than Robby — often would hang out at the ballpark, playing wiffle ball in the bullpen.

It wasn’t just because they loved the game, though they certainly did. The baseball field was a baby sitter of sorts, a place the boys went, as Robby said, “to give my mom some time off.”

Whatever the reason, being around the college players and having a dad as a college coach advanced their skills and knowledge of the game.

Having each other around for competition added even more.

“It helped a lot,” Robby said. “With Ritchie, I’d just watch him and see what he’s doing out there and I’d try to imitate it and bring it to my game.

“They’re both really good players, and I’m just blessed having them and watching them every day.”

6Sports video: Firebirds ready for State baseball tournament 6Sports video: Free State will face great pitchers

Their father accepted the head-coaching job at KU in July of 2002, bringing the Price boys to the Lawrence baseball scene. With Ritchie’s high school days over, he went straight to Mount Oread, where as a switch-hitting shortstop he has hit better than .300 in each of two seasons with the Jayhawks.

Robby and Ryne went to Free State, bringing loads of talent and a California-based trend with them — hats with the straight-out-of-the-box look, the bill as flat as a tabletop.

It takes a while to get used to, seeing the bills not bent to shape the skull.

“I’ve lived in Lawrence, Kansas, for 35 years,” Hill said with a smile. “The left coast is not one to corrupt the way I look at baseball. But you know, kids that play as well as them, you can overlook a couple of concerns.”

Ryne and Robby, a junior and a freshman at the time, were immediate standouts for Free State last year. Ryne enjoyed an All-State season, hitting .479 with four homers and 39 RBIs. Robby, playing with veteran poise and instincts, hit .487 with 38 hits, a homer and 14 RBIs as starting second baseman. He was a first-team All-Sunflower League and second-team All-State selection, all while attending Southwest Junior High.

Free State finished 18-5 and advanced to its first-ever state tournament. The team won 10 more games than it did the previous season.

Encore performance

One year later, the Firebirds are back in the state tournament, and once again the Price boys are making a huge impact. Ryne easily is one of the top players in Kansas, hitting .509 with eight home runs, 32 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and a ridiculous 1.211 slugging percentage. His production would be even better if not for the 27 walks he’s drawn — many intentional.

Robby, meanwhile, is hitting .442 with 24 RBIs. He moved to shortstop this year, and has committed just three errors at the most demanding position on the field.

“They’d never be where they are without an incredible desire to get better,” Hill said. “I’ve been around a lot of hard-working kids in my time, and they are right there at the top. They love the game, they have a passion for the game, and they’ll do anything to get better.”

As far as high school baseball goes, it’ll just be Robby after this weekend’s state tournament. The new version of the Price brothers will be at Hoglund, where Ritchie will be the shortstop, and Ryne likely will have a chance to contribute immediately.

Ryne admits he’s the black sheep of the three — different build, different position and a slightly different hitting approach.

“I would definitely say that,” Ryne said. “I just play different.”

Nobody’s complaining, though — except maybe opposing coaches.

“(Ryne) kind of got the characterization of being a power hitter,” Hill said. “I think he’s got that ability, and he’ll certainly put a few over the fence at Hoglund Ballpark during his career there. But he’s really a gap-to-gap guy.”

So, too, is Robby. The youngest brother doesn’t anticipate he’ll ever have the power that Ryne possesses, but it doesn’t mean he won’t join his brother among the best baseball players the city has ever seen.

That is, if he already hasn’t reserved his spot.

“Ryne will pretty much shatter every record we have offensively,” Hill said. “In some ways, he’s just setting the table for his brother.”