Free State High enjoyed Thursday’s 4-2 victory against Roeland Park Miege, but the Firebirds mostly relished the opportunity to play a game after a fortnight of inactivity.

“It was almost like opening day again,” Free State coach Mike Hill said. “We spent a few weeks trying to figure out who we were as a club. We were getting some ideas, and then you go on a two-week rain vacation.”

Junior Cody Lown helped preserve Free State’s undefeated record, allowing four hits and two runs during five innings pitched.

The junior earned the victory by getting ahead of batters and using an outside curveball as his go-to pitch. Against the middle of the lineup, he kept the hitters off balance by starting with off-speed pitches and finishing them off with fastballs. He took the opposite tactic against the bottom of the lineup.

Lown, however, said he needed to do a better job keeping the ball down.

“Cody battled,” Hill said. “He has shown better stuff before, but results are what the game is all about, and he got great results.”

Free State took a 1-0 led during the third inning after junior Adam Rock reached first base on a perfectly executed bunt and then stole second. Junior Alex Hardman brought him home with a sacrifice fly.

Miege responded with a rally during the fourth inning to take a momentary 2-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Trevor Mason doubled to score Ben Millard and KP Prewitt. The damage could have become worse, but Lown forced Travis Quick to fly out, ending the inning.

“I had to hit my spots,” Lown said. “I knew if I did that, the defense would make plays behind me.”

The Free State offense responded during the fourth inning. Senior Kyle Cross sent the first pitch, an outside fastball, into the outfield gap for a double to score senior Andy Petz. A single by junior John Wilson drove Cross home.

“They scored two in the fourth to go up on us,” Hill said. “That could be a little demoralizing. I was kind of pleased with our kids that we answered with two of our own. That’s what good teams need to do.”

After going two weeks without a game, the Firebirds returned to action in ideal conditions. The sun shined at Hoglund Ballpark, home of Kansas University’s baseball team.

“You don’t get to play on many fields like this,” Cross said. “This is a good field for the Big 12. So it’s great for a high school player to come play here. You don’t get any bad hops.”

Free State will play at another impressive venue – CommunityAmerica Ballpark – tonight against Kansas City Ward. A win at the T-Bones’ home stadium would bolster Free State’s record to 7-0. But the defending 6A state champion Firebirds own loftier objectives.

“We’re pleased with our progress,” Hill said. “We’ve got a long way to go. We’re nowhere close to being the kind of team that will win a regional championship.”