Extra painful: Ninth-inning error gives SM East title

photo by: John Young

Free State High junior Matt Hill looks back as Shawnee Mission East players storm the field in celebration following the Kansas 6A state championship game Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark. The Firebirds fell to the Lancers, 4-3, in extra innings.

Mikey Corbett knelt on the Hoglund Ballpark turf late Saturday afternoon. Like many of his Free State High baseball teammates nearby, the senior second baseman tried unsuccessfully to fend off tears, as he thought again about the final sequence of the Class 6A state championship game.

It was a throw, Corbett said later, that he makes 10 times out of 10. On this particular occasion, though, in extra innings against Shawnee Mission East, the second baseman’s short-distance toss to first went askew. Instead of recording the second out, the ball dropped to the ground.

Lancers freshman pinch runner Phillip Cole raced from second to home on Free State’s first error of the day, and SME beat the defending state champs, 4-3, in nine innings.

“I feel the weight of so many hours of kids growing up playing baseball,” Corbett said after receiving numerous words of encouragement from his coaches and teammates. “I feel that weight on my shoulders right now.”

FSHS coach Mike Hill consoled Corbett after the Firebirds received their runners-up hardware, and let his senior infielder know the throw wasn’t what lost the game. Hill reminded Corbett, who had Tommy John surgery in August, he could’ve easily decided not to play through pain this spring.

“And his arm’s been killing him the whole weekend,” Hill revealed. “He just played on guts and because he loves his teammates… That kid was a two-year starter for us and went 41-9 and played in two state championship games. And he’s got a ring. He’s a great young man, and he’s got a lot to be proud of.”

His teammates had to feel some pride, as well, in the Sunflower League showdown. Free State (20-5) got shut out by SME (21-4) on the road just over a month ago, but turned the title-game rematch into a memorable battle. Actually, it reminded Hill of the Firebirds’ extra-inning loss to Goddard on a walk-off home run back in 2004.

“But, holy cow, did our kids fight? I’m not sure position by position we match up (with SME) to be very frank with you,” Hill said. “But in terms of determination and courage and buying in — all the things you would want a group of kids to stand for — that’s what we got, and that’s why we got here.”

The Lancers, who threw staff ace and soon-to-be MLB draft pick Joey Wentz in an 11-0 semifinal victory over Washburn Rural, took a one-run lead in the first and a two-run lead in the third. By the time the sixth inning rolled around, Free State trailed 3-1 with six outs to go.

A tying rally began in the top of the sixth as a slow roller between the pitching mound and third base became an infield single for junior Zion Bowlin. After SME starting pitcher Henry Miller retired the next two hitters, senior Parker Tietjen drew a walk. The short string of offensive hope allowed junior Nathan Strathman to pound a two-run, game-tying double to the left-field gap.

“That’s a guy,” Hill added, “who was playing JV ball halfway through the year. What’s that say about him, that he can elevate his level of play, and then come into this environment in front of that kind of crowd, in that kind of situation, with a state title on the line and deliver the way that he did? I’m just incredibly proud of him and our team, that they were able to put themselves in that situation.”

After 2 1?3 innings, FSHS junior starting pitcher Aaron Funk left the game with the Lancers ahead, 2-1. From that point on, senior hurlers Trevor Munsch and Hunter Gudde held SME in check for more than five innings. Munsch (winning pitcher in a 2-0 semifinal defeat of top-seeded Blue Valley) finished the third, fourth and fifth frames, allowing no hits and no earned runs. Gudde (saving closer versus BVHS) entered in the middle of the sixth to finish, struck out three batters, gave up just two hits and, like Munsch, allowed no earned runs.

Said Tietjen, who went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and scored the tying run in the sixth: “We knew we could get to anyone (with Wentz not pitching). We knew our pitchers were gonna keep us in the game. We knew our defense was gonna keep us in the game. And that’s how every game is with us. It’s just scraping across runs and, you know, people come up in big situations. We get key hits and we’re in it in the ninth.”

Eventually, Corbett said, the Firebirds will focus more on their two-year run, complete with consecutive championship-game berths, and less on the pain that accompanied a nine-inning clash.

“There won’t be anything I’m ever a part of or a member of in any facet of my life that will be more meaningful and special than what we’ve had in my past four years at Free State,” Corbett explained. “It’s gonna be something that’s gonna be replayed in my head forever. Last year it was amazing. It just hurts so much to come up short with something that could’ve been prevented.”

Added Tietjen: “It’s been awesome. The seniors last year really led the way for us with everything they did, on the field, off the field, and it really helped pave the way for seniors this year… It’s tough we couldn’t (repeat). But I’ll take that. I’ll take that.”

Free State 001 002 000 — 3 5 1

SM East 100 000 001 — 4 7 2

W — Luke Anderson. L — Hunter Gudde, 7-2.

2B — Nathan Strathman, FSHS.

FSHS highlights — Trevor Munsch, 22?3 IP, 2 Ks, 0 H, 0 ERs; Hunter Gudde, 31?3 IP, 3 Ks, 2 Hs, 0 ERs; Parker Tietjen, 2-for-2, 2 BBs, R; Nathan Strathman, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs; Kyle Abrahamson, 1-for-4, RBI; Zion Bowlin, 1-for-4, R.