Free State senior Mikey Corbett (10) leads off of second base while Warrnsberg shortstop Malachai Browning (23) covers on defense during the first game of their doubleheader on Saturday at FSHS.

Free State High’s baseball players, playing in their first game since winning a Class 6A state title, picked up where they left off in their season opener on Saturday.

The Firebirds were dominant on the mound and found ways to plate a few runs, sweeping a doubleheader against Warrensburg (Mo.) with a 4-2 win in the first game and a 6-3 victory in Game Two at FSHS.

Free State junior right-hander Aaron Funk set the tone for the pitching staff, opening the first game with eight strikeouts in four innings, giving up just one run and four hits.

Funk, a 6-foot-5, 200-pounder, is one of several new faces in Free State’s lineup and rotation.

But even with new players in new roles, the Firebirds looked more than ready to start their new season.

“I think the recipe is similar for us,” Free State coach Mike Hill said. “We’re going to have to pitch and play defense. I thought we did some good things offensively today. That’s going to be the recipe for us to be competitive again.”

After Funk’s strong start on the mound, Free State senior pitchers Trevor Munsch, Parker Tietjen and Hunter Gudde didn’t allow an earned run over the next 10 innings.

Munsch and Gudde, who both threw complete games in last year’s state tournament, allowed one hit each across three innings. Tietjen struck out four in four innings, allowing three unearned runs from a bases-loaded, no-out jam.

“Aaron is going to step up this year,” Munsch said. “He’s going to do really well for us.”

Hill noted at this stage of the season pitchers are usually ahead of hitters. That made Free State’s offense more impressive.

The Firebirds (2-0) led after each inning throughout the doubleheader. In the first game, the Firebirds took a two-run lead when junior Dale Miller hit an RBI single, scoring senior Mikey Corbett, and senior Zion Bowlin scored on a ground out.

Munsch, who went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk, added a run-scoring triple in the fifth inning, driving a ball (with the wind) over the head of Warrensburg’s right fielder.

It was a different look for Munsch, a University of Oklahoma signee, who didn’t have any plate appearances last season. He asked the coaches in the preseason, after spending the past few years focusing on his pitching, if he could start swinging again.

“I don’t want him to get carried away,” Hill said with a laugh. “You can tell he’s been in the weight room. He was one of those guys in the preseason for us, in the last couple of weeks when we scrimmaged, he was hitting the ball. He deserved this opportunity and he took advantage of it.”

In the second game, the Firebirds scored six runs on seven hits. Corbett, a magnet for getting hit by pitches, had two singles, and junior outfielder Daniel Bryant drilled two doubles.

“I was just trying to keep it simple with my swing and everything,” said Bryant, who went 4-for-6 in the two games. “It was just easy to come out here and have fun.”

Gudde added a triple in the right-center gap in the second game, junior shortstop Matt Hill hit a single and scored a run, and senior Bradley Collicott scored two runs and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

There were still some of the typical mistakes that are expected from the beginning of the season, but the Firebirds were happy to start playing games after three weeks of practice.

“It’s pretty neat,” Munsch said. “I’m a senior and it came quicker than I thought it would. Now we’re already two games down. The weather wasn’t nice but we got it done.”

The Firebirds will travel to Ozark (Mo.) at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Free State 4-6, Warrensburg 2-3

Game 1

Warrensburg 010 001 0 — 2 5 2

Free State 200 020 x — 4 6 1

W — Aaron Funk (1-0). L –Dayton Brown. SV — Trevor Munsch (1).

2B — Munsch, Free State; Kevin Hardin, Mason Roberts, Warrensburg. 3B — Munsch, Free State.

Free State highlights — Funk, 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; Munsch, 2-for-2, RBI, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K; Dale Miller, 1-for-2, RBI, walk; Jaden Moore, 1-for-3, RBI, run; Daniel Bryant, 2-for-3.

Game 2

Warrensburg 000 300 0 — 3 4 3

Free State 121 011 x — 6 7 1

W — Parker Tietjen (1-0). L — Malachai Browning. SV — Hunter Gudde (1).

2B — Daniel Bryant (2), Free State. 3B — Gudde, Free State.

Free State highlights — Tietjen, 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K; Gudde, 1-for-4, run, RBI, 3 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K; Bryant, 2-for-3, run; Bradley Collicott, 1-for-4, 2 runs; Mikey Corbett, 2-for-3, RBI.