Free State high senior Allie Hock, left, tries to run out a bunt as Lawrence High senior Amanda Weishaar throws to first. Free State defeated LHS, 1-0, and Topeka High, 3-1, Tuesday at Free State to advance to the 6A state tournament May 25-26 in Wichita.

Free State High’s softball team held its 6A regional championship hardware aloft and then posed for a team picture – for seconds, not minutes – before dispersing Tuesday night.

The Firebirds rejoiced their third consecutive trip to the state tournament in a subdued manner.

“It’s almost like a breath of relief,” Free State coach Pam Pine said. “Maybe that’s what’s taking away from the celebration.”

Catherine Smith ensured the team fulfilled its preseason objective, pitching 111â3 innings and throwing 13 strikeouts as FSHS defeated rival Lawrence High, 1-0, in the first round and Topeka High, 3-1, in the championship.

“She was right on,” Pine said. “She came out strong and didn’t get rattled.”

The junior, who effectively located her changeup during both games, started against LHS and entered the Topeka game after her sister, Megan, pitched 11â3 innings.

Catherine best demonstrated her moxie during the fifth inning of the championship game. With the game tied at 1, Topeka’s first two hitters reached scoring position with no outs. She then forced a strikeout, a fielder’s choice and a ground out to end the inning.

Although the No.2-seeded Firebirds (18-3) captured a berth at state, their performance during the regionals was one of the least impressive during their banner year. They lacked selectivity at the plate, failed to place their bunts and committed costly errors. A throwing error during the first inning accounted for Topeka’s lone run.

“It wasn’t our best outing,” Pine said. “What happened is what I was afraid would happen, but fortunately we came out on top.”

Maggie Hull, though, shined during both games, collecting five hits. During the final she went 3-for-3, and her fifth-inning double scored Kelsey Leimiller-Renick, giving the Firebirds a lead they would not relinquish. Hull also scored the team’s two other runs off of a Kayley Lane double in the first and a Chelsey Stryker wild pitch in the fifth.

“I really just took it upon myself to step up and get it done,” Hull said.

Lane scored the team’s only run off a Lexi Smith sacrifice fly during its third win of the year against the Lions. LHS, which finished the season 4-17, peformed in way that belied its record.

“We didn’t give it to them. They came out, and they earned it,” LHS coach Reenie Stogsdill said. “I was proud of the way they played today. I was proud of the way they stepped up to the challenge.”

Although Catherine Smith’s dominance overshadowed her, the Lions’ Sydney Seratte, who began pitching full-time this year, threw a complete-game six-hitter.

“I don’t know if I can say enough about Sydney,” Stogsdill said. “She stepped up and showed more courage and more mental toughness than any kid I’ve ever coached.”

However, the Lions’ crosstown foe will serve as the lone city softball team playing in Wichita next Friday.

“We knew from before the season started that state was our goal, and we weren’t accepting anything less,” Maggie Hull said. “We’re all happy for ourselves that we achieved our goal, but we’re not done yet.”