FINAL: Free State 7, LHS 5

After Albert Minnis reached base with a walk to open the top of the seventh, Tanner Kilmer flew out to deep center field and Free State ends the game with a double play.

Firebirds win.

Free State improves to 15-4. LHS falls to 10-9.

These two will meet up again Friday at LHS. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

For more, check Friday’s Journal-World or watch tonight’s sports on Channel 6.

A replay of the game also will be shown on Channel 6 at 10:30 p.m.

Free State 7, LHS 5 Bottom 6th

You knew that the absence of Landon Moseley, who missed the game with a head injury, would come into play at some point. It may have been in the sixth inning.

The Firebirds loaded the bases when Toalson walked, moving Stremel to third and Kukuk (who was given an intentional pass) to second. Then, a sharply hit ball from Tim Lewis was misplayed by shortstop Troy Willoughby, who started in place of Moseley. The ball appeared to be tailor-made for an inning-ending double play, but instead it rolled into center field allowing two Firebirds to score.

Free State takes a 7-5 lead into the top of the seventh, with Minnis, Kilmer and McElhaney due up for LHS.

Free State 5, LHS 5 Bottom 6th

Minnis’s night is finished on the mound. Ben Wyatt comes in to start the sixth for the Lions, who were retired quietly in the top of the sixth.

Minnis finished with the following line: 5 IP, 4 hits, 5 runs, 9 Ks, 6 walks and 3 hit batters.

Free State 5, LHS 5 Top 6th

Minnis strikes out two more and continues to hover around the 90 mph mark with his fastball, as the Lions and Firebirds head into the sixth knotted up at 5.

Minnis now has nine strikeouts on the night.

Free State 5, LHS 5 Bottom 5th

Toalson gets the Lions 1-2-3 in the fifth and the Firebirds come to the plate quickly in the bottom of the fifth.

Free State 5, LHS 5 Top 5th

Free State gets a base hit from Toalson but Minnis strikes out Kukuk (second time tonight) and Tim Lewis to end the inning. The momentum seems to have shifted to the LHS dugout and the Lions bring Gentry, Troy Willoughby and Jake Johnson to the plate in the fifth.

Free State 5, LHS 5 Bottom 4th

Lawrence High scores three runs in the top of the fourth after chasing Kukuk from the game. Minnis delivered an RBI single that scored Ross Johnson and Chris Parker and, in an incredible display of base running, Cody Jones (pinch-running for Minnis) stole second and third, while allowing Shane Willoughby to score on a delayed steal of home.

In all, LHS has stolen seven bases in the game, three by Jones.

Free State 5, LHS 2 Top 4th

After back-to-back singles by LHS’s Travis Willoughby and Ross Johnson and a walk to Shane Willoughby, Free State coach Mike Hill decides to take Kukuk out of the game.

Kukuk pitched 3.1 innings, gave up two runs on four hits and struck out six while walking five. Colin Toalson relieves Kukuk, who stays in to play right field. LHS has the bases loaded with one out and Ross Johnson at the plate.

Free State 5, LHS 2 Top 4th

The Firebirds get two runs back and push the lead to three again, thanks to RBIs from Michael Lisher (his second of the game) and Ryan Scott.

Lisher, who drove in a run in the first after being hit by a pitch, knocked this one in with a walk. Scott followed by grounding out to third to push another across the plate.

Kukuk and Minnis both remain in the game on the mound.

Free State 3, LHS 2 Bottom 3rd

Lawrence High jumped right back into the game with a two-run third inning, sparked by Shane Willoughby’s leadoff double that soared over the head of FSHS left fielder Nick Hassig and rolled to the wall.

One batter later, Ross Johnson laid down a nice bunt and reached first on a throwing error by Kukuk. The throw bounced past right fielder Preston Schenck, who slipped, and Johnson wound up on third.

Next up, Albert Minnis grounded out to second base to make the score 3-2.

Free State 3, LHS 0, Top 3rd

Albert Minnis bounced back in the second. After walking the leadoff batter he struck out the Firebirds 2-3-4 hitters (Stremel, Hassig and Kukuk) to get out of the inning.

Free State 3, LHS 0, Bottom 2nd

Another walk and another stolen base for LHS, but Kukuk again found his way out of a little trouble in the second.

The Free State starter struck out two more Lions — his fourth and fifth of the night — and coerced Chris Parker to pop out to second to end the inning. The pop out was the first ball put into play by the Lions tonight.

Free State 3, LHS 0, Top 2nd

After the Lions threaten to score in the top of the first, Free State answers by sending eight batters to the plate in a three-run inning.

Connor Stremel led off with a double, Nick Hassig drove him in with an RBI single and Adam Petz and Michael Lisher each picked up RBIs after being hit by pitches with the bases loaded.

LHS starter Albert Minnis got out of the inning with minimal damage by getting Ryan Scott to bounce into a 1-2-3 double play.

0-0, Bottom 1st

Lawrence High earned two walks and stole three bases but Kukuk struck out the side to keep the Lions off the scoreboard.

The final out of the inning came when Kukuk struck out Chase McElhaney on high heat with runners at second and third. As the FSHS pitcher ran off the mound, he pumps his fist.

We go to the bottom of the first, Stremel, Hassig and Kukuk coming up for Free State.

Original Post

With a combined earned-run-average below 1.50 and more than 120 strikeouts between them, city high school pitchers Cody Kukuk and Albert Minnis have appeared to be unstoppable at times this season.

Monday, we discovered the one thing that could stop them both — rain.

Monday’s city showdown, dubbed the “Duel of the Century,” was postponed because of severe weather and instead will be played at 6 tonight at LHS.

The Lions (10-8) enter the game winners of six of their last eight games. Free State (14-4) has won nine of its last 11.

Kukuk and Minnis are slated to start on the mound for their respective teams in the first of two scheduled meetings this week. LHS and FSHS also will play at 7 p.m. Thursday at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark.

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s game:

LAWRENCE HIGH

1. Shane Willoughby, 3B
2. Ross Johnson, CF
3. Albert Minnis, P
4. Tanner Kilmer, 1B
5. Chase McElhaney, LF
6. Taylor Gentry, DH
7. Troy Willoughby, SS
8. Jake Johnson, RF
9. Chris Parker, 2B

Jon Pederson is catching for the Lions, who are wearing gray pants, red tops and black hats.

FREE STATE HIGH

1. Connor Stremel, CF
2. Nick Hassig, LF
3. Cody Kukuk, P
4. Colin Toalson, SS
5. Tim Lewis, DH
6. Adam Petz, C
7. Michael Lisher, 1B
8. Ryan Scott, 2B
9. Cory Delg, 3B

Preston Schenck is playing right field for the Firebirds, who are wearing all white with green caps.

After three days of waiting and a ton of rain, the first pitch is right around the corner. Finally.

Check back throughout the night for inning-by-inning updates.