photo by: Richard Gwin

Free State junior Mayah Daniels (17) pulls into second base with a double as LHS shortstop senior Sophie Taylor takes the throw during the Firebirds' 13-run first inning in Tuesday's City Showdown softball game at LHS.

It seemed Tuesday evening at Lawrence High’s softball field the top of the first inning might never end.

That would have been just fine with Free State, which scored a baker’s dozen worth of runs before the Lions put an end to their nightmare start — a dream frame for the Firebirds, who cruised to a 14-1 City Showdown win in five innings.

“That takes a lot of pressure off you in emotional games like this,” FSHS coach Lee Ice said of his team’s improbable opening act.

The Firebirds (10-9) scored 11 times before LHS recorded the second out of the game. The Lions didn’t scrape their way to the middle of the first until Free State had sent 17 hitters to the plate, taken a 13-0 lead and put 10 hits on the board.

FSHS leadoff batter Hailey Jump was 2-for-2 with an RBI and scored twice in the first inning alone.

“We definitely didn’t expect it to play out like that,” the senior outfielder was quick to point out. “It was fun, though.”

Free State’s mega inning got off to an innocent enough beginning, with senior Madison Norris moving Jump into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. But Lawrence senior starting pitcher Amber Flummerfelt and the Lions’ defense couldn’t find another out before the Firebirds had crossed the plate 10 times, and LHS coach Joe Dee Tarbutton turned to sophomore pitcher Zoe Brewer in relief.

“That wasn’t Amber’s usual night out,” Tarbutton said, “and she had a pretty rough start. And then you see little flops fall in — they had legitimate hits, too, don’t get me wrong. But everything that could go the other way was just going the other way.”

Firebirds junior Dacia Starr and senior Kate Stanwix delivered back-to-back singles to score run No. 1 in the runaway inning.

After senior Emily Byers walked to load the bases, senior Cali Byrn drew another free pass for a 2-0 lead. A wild pitch built the visitors’ early advantage to three before junior Mayah Daniels knocked in two runs with a base hit to right field.

Senior Elizabeth Patton drew Free State’s third walk in four plate appearances, and after junior Jasper Hawkins came up with a short infield hit, Jump made it 6-0 with a bloop single to left field.

Ice said the Firebirds lived up to their offensive capabilities by quickly adjusting to a tight strike zone.

“We didn’t chase on pitches. We made contact,” Ice said. “We had some little flares in there that happened to drop in. But one thing adds to another. We started being aggressive on the base paths.”

Norris extended the already comfortable lead to 7-0 with an RBI single before a wild pitch and a throwing error netted FSHS two more runs. Next, Starr smashed an RBI double for a 10-0 lead.

Byers put a pitch in the gap for Free State’s 11th run before Brewer got Byrn to pop up for the second out. However, before the Lions could stop the onslaught, Daniels smacked a two-run double down the first-base line, capping a crazy first inning.

“It was great,” Daniels said after driving in four of her team’s 13 first-inning runs. “We really wanted to come out strong. And we really didn’t think we would come out that strong. But it is nice to have that in your back pocket.”

Pitching with a massive lead, Patton retired six of the first seven Lions she faced, striking out four in the first two innings.

Said LHS senior Audrina Hidalgo, whose RBI double in the third plated senior Sophie Taylor, and gave Lawrence its lone run: “It’s always hard when you get down like that to come back.”

Afterward, both coaches warned their players to move on from the lopsided outcome before today’s 5:30 p.m. rematch at Free State.

Obviously, Tarbutton focused on how the Lions (9-10) finished the shortened game, playing their rivals to a 1-1 tie over the final four innings, with Brewer retiring the Firebirds in order in both the third and fourth.

The LHS coach said his team is far better than it showed Tuesday, and he expects his players to battle in today’s regular-season finale.

“They ruined our Senior Night, so now we have the opportunity to go ruin theirs,” Tarbutton said.

Free State (13)10 00 — 14 12 1

Lawrence 001 00 — 1 5 2

W — Elizabeth Patton (9-4). L — Amber Flummerfelt.

2B — Dacia Starr, Emily Byers, Mayah Daniels, FSHS; Audrina Hidalgo, LHS.

FSHS highlights — Hailey Jump, 3-for-4, 3 Rs, RBI; Mayah Daniels, 2-for-3, 4 RBIs, R; Madison Norris, 2-for-3, R, RBI; Dacia Starr, 2-for-4, 2 Rs, 2 RBIs; Emily Byers, 1-for-3, R; Jasper Hawkins, 1-for-3, R; Kate Stanwix, 1-for-3, R; Elizabeth Patton, 5 IP, 5 Ks, BB, 5 Hs.

LHS highlights — Audrina Hidalgo, 1-for-3, RBI; Sophie Taylor, 1-for-3, R; Zoe Brewer, 4 2/3 IP, 4 Hs, 2Ks.