Overland Park ? With the wind blowing toward the outfield on Thursday, the Free State High baseball took took advantage.

Tim Lewis went 3-for-5 and belted two home runs, Cody Kukuk smashed another homer and the Firebirds won a slugfest over Shawnee Mission West, 14-10.

“The element had a bearing on the game,” Free State coach Mike Hill said. “We had not given up a home run all year (on defense) and we gave up three. Credit West, they swung the bat well. But the wind had an impact on the game.”

Kukuk earned the victory, going 4 2/3 innings and striking out eight. He improved to 6-0 on the season. Colin Toalson picked up his third save.

Free State’s pitchers and defenders had to adjust to the swirling wind conditions, but Hill stressed the fundamentals to his players.

“Hey, it’s still about throwing strikes,” Hill said. “When you have a day like that, you just can’t beat yourself. Tonight was an anomoly with the weather. It was just a different night.”

The Firebirds improved to 12-2.