Topeka ? Fifteen Street is the dividing line for Lawrence’s two high schools, and the thoroughfare seems to have split the softball talent almost equally.

Free State and Lawrence High have many similarities going into today’s Class 6A softball sub-state at Washburn Rural.

“This year and last year, we’ve been really evenly matched,” Lawrence High coach Reenie Stogsdill said. “It’ll be a dogfight.”

Game time will be 2:30 p.m. for the clash between the No. 4-seeded Firebirds (11-9) and the fifth-seeded Lions (10-10). The winner almost certainly will face No. 1 seed Washburn Rural (14-6) at 5:45 p.m. for a berth in the 6A state meet May 27-28 at Clinton Lake Softball Complex.

The Junior Blues are scheduled to meet winless Leavenworth (0-20) at 4 p.m. in today’s other semifinal.

A week ago today, Free State and Lawrence High split a doubleheader at the FSHS field. Lawrence High won the opener, 3-1, behind pitcher Whitney Juneau, but the Firebirds rallied for a pulsating 5-4 victory in the nightcap by scoring three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh.

“I think winning that game is definitely an advantage,” FSHS coach Pam Pine said, “especially coming back the way we did. That was a pretty good confidence booster.”

Juneau had blanked the Firebirds through five innings, but the senior right-hander faltered in the sixth. Stogsdill believes Juneau, who also is a talented singer, might have lost her concentration because she needed to leave in order to perform at LHS that evening.

“Whitney had other obligations that day,” Stogsdill said, “and now our whole focus is on regionals.”

Some focus will be placed, too, on LHS junior shortstop Drew Huff who didn’t play in that twinbill because of a bruised knee.

“She’s still questionable,” Stogsdill said of Huff. “If she does play, she probably won’t be at full speed.”

A week ago, Stogsdill moved catcher Lauren Kelly to short as Huff’s replacement and shifted outfielder Caitlin Bowlin behind the plate. This time, if Huff can’t go, Stogsdill said she would move third baseman Shannon Worley to short and outfielder Rachel Amyx to third.

Although there is little apparent difference between the two city teams, Lawrence High may have the edge in intangibles because the Lions have seven seniors and the Firebirds have just two — pitcher Ashley Wagner and outfielder Chloe Hall.

Wagner was the losing pitcher in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. She’ll start again today against the Lions.

The key for the Firebirds, Pine said, is to be patient while batting against Juneau.

“Her up pitch is her bread and butter,” Pine said. “It’s tough to lay off that pitch. We have to be aggressive and lay off some of her pitches.”