Thursday’s rain put a damper on the River City Festival, but tournament director Mike Hill sees a silver lining for the remainder of the three-day, 26-team high school baseball tournament.

“All three fields are tarped,” said Hill, also Free State High’s coach, “so we’re optimistic about playing Friday if the rain subsides.”

Only two of the seven games scheduled Thursday at the three venues – Kansas City’s CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark and Free State’s diamond – were played.

Blue Valley North edged Olathe North, 6-5, and Olathe East thumped Roeland Park Miege, 18-1, in early afternoon games at CA and Hoglund ballparks, respectively.

Lawrence High was scheduled to meet Omaha, Neb., Creighton Prep at 4 p.m., but rain and lightning chased both teams off the KU diamond, and a gully-washer forced the game to be called, as well as the scheduled 7:30 p.m. nightcap between Free State and Warrensburg, Mo.

With both Lawrence High and Free State scheduled to meet out-of-state teams Thursday, chances the games will be made up are slim.

Lawrence coach Brad Stoll said he would try to reschedule with Creighton Prep.

Free State and Lawrence are scheduled to play tonight in the Festival, this time at CA Ballpark. The Firebirds are to meet Kansas City, Mo., Rockhurst at 5:30 p.m., with the Lions to take on K.C. Ward at 8 p.m.

Also wiped out by Thursday’s wet weather were Lawrence’s boys tennis match against Shawnee Mission West at the Lawrence Tennis Center and the Lions’ home soccer game against Olathe Northwest at the Youth Sports Inc. fields.