Asked to describe sophomore right-hander Catherine Smith, both Free State High softball coach Pam Pine and catcher Allie Hock pointed to the things the young hurler hadn’t been during the first half of the 2006 season.

She hasn’t been consistent, she hasn’t been overpowering, and her ball hasn’t shown the late movement needed to keep hitters off-balance.

That scouting report would surprise Shawnee Mission North, which couldn’t solve the Firebirds’ No. 2 starter Tuesday.

Smith threw a two-hitter, allowed just two balls to reach the outfield and faced just two batters over the minimum in the second game of a Sunflower League doubleheader, picking up a 5-0 victory to cap Free State’s two-game sweep.

“We’ve been working a lot. She doesn’t throw overly powerful stuff,” Pine said. “She was more effective today because she was hitting her spots. She did better at keeping the ball down in the zone.

“This is the best game she’s thrown for a while, and I was glad to see it, get her some confidence back,” Pine said.

North’s Autumn Hurt beat out an infield dribbler to lead off the game, and No. 9 hitter Heidi Gentry stroked a clean single in the third to account for the Indians’ lone baserunners.

Otherwise, Smith (3-2) rode an assortment of ground balls, soft pop-ups and seven strikeouts.

Free State had its own problems solving North righty Samantha Lawrence, clinging to a solitary run in the second inning before busting the game open with a four-run fifth.

Hock had the big blow, stroking a two-run double that capped a 4-for-7 afternoon.

“We just needed to buckle down and time her. Once we did, we were all over her,” Hock said of Lawrence. “Hopefully, the young kids can use that confidence for the rest of the season.”

As for Smith, her catcher had the same desire for a carryover effect.

“It’s all location for her,” Hock said. “She knows all she has to do is place the ball, and she’ll be effective.”

Free State’s more accomplished hurler, senior ace Summer Mulford, improved to 4-1 in the first game, surviving two rough patches in a 4-2 victory.

The lanky right-hander left the bases loaded in the fifth – when North scored twice to make it a one-run game – and again in the seventh.

Her offensive support came via Hock, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and second baseman Livi Abney, who finished 3-for-4 and scored twice.

Free State is 7-3 overall and 3-2 in Sunflower League play heading into Thursday’s home doubleheader against Olathe North.

“I feel really good about that,” Pine said. “The rest of our season, we should be right in there. There’s three, four, five teams right in the middle (of the league race) and maybe could explode.”