Olathe East is beatable in softball. Free State High proved that a couple of weeks ago.

Nevertheless, the tradition-rich Hawks are the No. 1 seed in the Class 6A state tournament that will begin this evening at Clinton Lake Softball Complex.

“They’re extremely talented,” Free State coach Pam Pine said of Olathe East. “I think they’re going to win the whole thing.”

The lone blemish on the 21-1 Hawks’ record is a 5-1 loss to the Firebirds in the second game of a doubleheader May 11. Olathe East romped in the opener, 10-0, but Free State stunned the Hawks in the nightcap.

“Free State played really well against us,” O-East coach Jeff Hulse said. “They brought their A-game, but everybody brings their A-game against us.”

Olathe East has appeared in eight of the last nine state tournaments and won championships twice (1998 and 2001). Last year, the Hawks bowed to Shawnee Mission Northwest, 3-1, in the title game. SM Northwest isn’t in this year’s field.

Olathe East features a fearsome offense led by returning all-staters Val Chapple and Casey Gorrell. Chapple, a junior third baseman, is hitting an astounding .636 and has driven in 36 runs in the Hawks’ 22 games.

“That is phenomenal,” Hulse said. “She has just shattered the school record for doubles and triples.”

Gorrell, a junior catcher, also bats in the meat of the Hawks’ order. Hulse has a strong batter at the top of the order, too, in junior shortstop Teddi Ewing, who is hitting .515 and leads the club in runs scored.

On the mound, Hulse relies on sophomore Alex Hupp whose career record is 31-1. Free State, which failed to qualify for state and finished with a 10-11 record, handed Hupp her only high school defeat.

“I don’t think she was really sharp in that game,” Pine said of Hupp. “She threw a lot of pitches and we had three straight hits against her. The key is to stay patient against her, and she’ll probably give you something to hit.”

Olathe East will open against Topeka High (13-9), the No. 8 seed, in one of the two 5 p.m. games. In the other 5 p.m. contest, No. 2 seed Wichita Northwest (20-2) will meet No. 7 seed Olathe South (15-7). In the 7 p.m. first-round games, No. 3 seed Derby (19-3) will meet Olathe North (16-6) and No. 4 seed Maize (18-4) will tangle with Emporia (16-6).

Semifinals are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday. The championship game is set for 1 p.m., or following the noon consolation championship. All games will be played on the two west fields at the four-diamond complex in southwest Lawrence.

Pine’s advice to the rest of the field is to try to keep the Olathe East batters off stride — a tactic Firebirds’ hurler Felicia Freeman used while holding the Hawks to just one run.

“She throws a lot of off-speed stuff and her change was working really well,” Pine said of Freeman’s performance. “They like the ball thrown at them hard and fast. The key is keeping the ball away from their best hitters.”

Sunflower League teams have won seven of the last eight Class 6A titles — four by SM Northwest, two by Olathe East and one by Olathe South. Wichita Northwest won in 1999.

Class 6A Softball

At Clinton Lake Softball Complex

Today’s Games

5 p.m. — Olathe South (15-7) vs. Wichita Northwest (20-2)

5 p.m. — Topeka (13-9) vs. Olathe East (21-1)

7 p.m. — Olathe North (16-6) vs. Derby (19-3)

7 p.m. — Emporia (16-6) vs. Maize (18-4)

Saturday’s Games

10 a.m. — Semifinal

10 a.m. — Semifinal

Noon — Third place

1 p.m. — Championship