Lawrence High senior pitcher Daniel Green, left, gets a high-five from senior Sam Anderson after finishing up the sixth inning against Free State. Green earned the win in the Lions' 4-1 victory over the Firebirds on Wednesday at Free State High.

Daniel Green had no business catching the final out that secured the 4-1 Lawrence High baseball victory over Free State on Wednesday at FSHS.

The senior LHS pitcher didn’t let anyone – not even teammates Nick DeBiasse or Chase Muder – stand in the way of a sky-high foul ball toward the first-base dugout.

“That’s the first baseman’s ball,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “We practice that all the time. But he wanted that ball.”

Green was so determined to catch the final out he disregarded DeBiasse’s call-off from first base. Green caught the ball with his glove raised amid the nearby presence of DeBiasse and Muder. After the ball smacked the leather of his mitt, Green left his glove elevated in the air and raised his other arm in triumph.

“I was just making sure everyone knew I had it,” Green said. “I was getting that ball, even if I had to run into somebody. I wanted to finish the game off right there and didn’t want to go back up there and throw another pitch.”

Green’s complete-game two-hitter against Free State represented the first victory of Green’s career against the Firebirds. It was Lawrence’s first victory against Free State in five years. The Firebirds had won the previous eight matchups.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was an important win,” Stoll said. “But is it the most important win of the season? I certainly hope not. I hope we win a regional title, and I hope we win a state championship. And in 22 hours, we play them again, so we can’t dwell on that.”

Lawrence (10-7) will face Free State (12-4) again at 7 tonight at Hoglund Ballpark.

Green went through the Free State lineup like he was taking a final exam. He was meticulous in his approach and didn’t surrender a hit to the first 11 Free State batters. His pitch count was at 81 after the game. Green gave up one earned run, walked two and struck out three.

“He was just throwing as hard as he could early, but then about the second inning, that’s when he started pitching – locating his breaking ball and throwing his change-up,” Stoll said. “He didn’t just try to throw because you can’t do that to those guys. If Ben Wilson or Andy Petz gets on time with a fastball, it’s going to hit that bus over there.”

Free State took a 1-0 lead on Ben Wilson’s RBI single in the fourth inning. The Firebirds held onto the lead until the sixth inning, when senior John Novotny and sophomore Clint Pinnick hit RBI singles to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.

Senior shortstop Daniel Parker extended the LHS lead with a solo blast over the right-field fence in the seventh inning. The home run sailed over the head of Alex Hardman and disappeared into the trees. It gave LHS a 3-1 advantage.

“After he started me off with a breaking ball, I anticipated him throwing a fastball, and I just got my foot down and turned it around,” Parker said. “After I hit that, I knew we were going to hold on because Daniel was pitching unbelievably. I knew he was going to shut the door no matter what, so I guess the home run didn’t even matter.”

Sophomore Dorian Green walked with the bases loaded to give LHS a 4-1 lead.

Free State junior Caleb Gress pitched 5 2/3 innings before being lifted for E.J. Swanson in the sixth inning. Gress gave up three hits, two earned runs and three walks and struck out four.

“In tight ball games, it’s important to get the leadoff guy on, and we never did,” Free State coach Mike Hill said. “You have to put pressure on people defensively, and when you’re lifting the ball up in the air like we were, it’s pretty easy for them.”

Green forced 11 outs in the air and six outs via ground balls.

Novotny was ejected in the sixth inning for crashing into the catcher at home plate. High school rules prohibit any player from running into the catcher at home plate in an attempt to score. Novotny will miss tonight’s game at Hoglund Ballpark.