The schedule-makers made sure the two city high school programs will take different viewpoints into the 2006 River City Baseball Festival.

Thanks to Tuesday night’s 12-1 drubbing of its cross-town rival, Free State High enters this weekend’s 21-team affair with renewed confidence, having bounced back in convincing fashion from its first loss.

Meanwhile, Lawrence High will be seeking its own rebound after allowing its losing streak to grow to three with its setback in the city clash.

“It sets up nicely only if you take advantage of it,” said Free State coach Mike Hill, who began the week worried about having enough pitching to cover four games in five days. “If we don’t go out the rest of this week and play good, it’s all for naught.”

The Firebirds (7-1), ranked fourth in this week’s Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches Class 6A poll, open festival play at 7 tonight against Sunflower League foe Shawnee Mission North at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark.

Free State will round out its weekend slate against a pair of Missouri participants, facing Grandview at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Hoglund before wrapping up its busy week against Warrensburg in an 11:30 a.m. clash Saturday on the KU diamond.

Optimism abounds for what lies ahead over the next 72 hours after the Firebirds needed just two pitchers to shut down LHS while turning in arguably their best offensive performance of the season.

“In order for us to do that, that’s just big for us to bring momentum for our team heading into this weekend and the rest of the way,” Free State senior Scott Heitshusen said.

LHS (4-4) will have a lighter load to close out its week, deciding to play just two games in this year’s event. The Lions square off with the third Missouri entrant in this year’s field, Kansas City Rockhurst, at 7 tonight at Ice Field, followed by a 12:30 p.m. matinee Friday against Blue Valley Northwest at Hoglund.

“I was kind of looking maybe to play (just) two, and then the opportunity to play the Bishop Kelley team (last) Saturday was too good to pass up,” said LHS coach Brad Stoll, who opted for the challenge of a home game against one of the top programs in Oklahoma.

He added he had no grave concerns the loss to Free State would have a lingering effect.

“I really believe that we’re going to come out ready to play. I really firmly believe that,” Stoll said. “This is a good group of kids with a lot of heart and a lot of character.

“I really think that they’re going to come out and get after it : and play hard, hard baseball.”