Wichita ? From back-to-back run-rule victories to late-inning comebacks, the Free State High baseball team never ceases to amaze its fans.

This time, it was a four-run sixth inning in the opening-round game of the Class 6A state championship to defeat Dodge City, 5-3, at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

After being responsible for the first two errors of the game, Hunter Scheib came through in the clutch in the bottom of the sixth, with a two-run double that plated the go-ahead run.

“I’m really proud of him – and our whole team,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “Hunter’s done it all year long in the nine-hole for us, and he did what he’s done for three months. So, it was good redemption for him, and you like to see positive things happen like that for kids who work so hard. But I was proud of our kids and they did a fantastic job.”

Though the jitters were present in the early going, with two errors in the first three innings – with the one in the third contributing to the Demons’ three-run rally – come the fourth inning it was business as usual for the fourth-seeded Firebirds.

“I think the first game is always the hardest,” starting pitcher Robby Price said. “I mean, we’ve all been here. Our sophomore year, a lot of guys started for us. So I think it’s just defense – we had three errors today, a couple of walks that kind of hurt us. But defense and pitching is definitely the key and then timely hits. I mean we got it late. … We just keep plugging away. We should have a good shot (today).”

Free State’s pitchers put the third inning behind them, as they only yielded one hit and gave Dodge City one other baserunner off of an error.

Price laid the foundation at the mound with eight strikeouts in his five innings of work.

“Not putting the ball in play is always a good thing,” Price said, “if you can just get them yourself.”

Hill said he was happy to get at least five strong innings from Price with the hot conditions on the turf infield.

Scott Heitshusen’s scoreless two innings on the mound kept the FSHS offense chomping at the bit to return the stellar performance.

“When I come in in Robby’s relief, I’m just trying to shut the door and do the best we can in order to get the runs that we need to win the game,” Heitshusen said. “So that’s just my goal every time I come in – shut the door and do the best I can to not allow any more runs.”

Heitshusen finished off the last batter in the same fashion that Price got the first batter – a strikeout looking.

“It’s a big momentum builder when we can finish the game like that and come through at the end,” Heitshusen said.

They will hope that the momentum will carry over to their 10 a.m. match-up with No. 1 seeded Goddard.

“They didn’t throw their ace,” Hill said. “We’re going to see a first-team all-state pitcher, they saved him just for us. And we’re OK with that. That’s a challenge we’ll accept and we’ll have to go out and make things work. But it should be a good day of baseball, and hopefully it’s a couple of victories for a title.”