Olathe ? Free State High’s baseball team was shut out the last time it took the field. On Monday, it didn’t take long for the Firebirds to erase that memory.

Colin Toalson blasted a home run as the first batter of the game, and Free State hammered Olathe North, 13-6, on the road.

“That was huge,” Free State coach Mike Hill said of Toalson’s home run. “Hitting is certainly contagious. We needed that.”

The Firebirds fell, 3-0, to Shawnee Mission Northwest on Friday in Lenexa.

Toalson is having a monster year from the leadoff spot. He has hit three homers and is hitting close to .600 for the season. He went 3-for-4 with three runs scored Monday.

The Firebirds improved to 6-1.

Cody Kukuk (4-0) earned the victory, pitching 41/3 innings and striking out 12. Every out except one for Kukuk was via punchout.

“There were a few walks and hits in between there, and to their credit, Olathe North was able to string those together,” Hill said. “But there were certainly times when he was dominant.”

Free State will take on Rockhurst in the River City Festival at 8 p.m. Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark.