Free State softball coach Lee Ice did his best to keep his players focused before the game even started.

Free State’s matchup against Shawnee Mission West was delayed by more than 20 minutes Tuesday as both teams waited for a second umpire to arrive. The Firebirds tried to stay loose on the field with light dancing in the team’s group circle, but Ice said the delay did play a bit of a factor in his team’s preparation.

“Little bit of the focus got away from us when game time was supposed to be (earlier) and you end up 20, 30 minutes later than when you’re supposed to (play),” Ice said. “But I liked the way they reacted to it.”

Despite the delayed start, the Firebirds scored multiple runs in each of the first three innings on their way to a 10-0 win over the Vikings at FSHS. The game was called after Free State recorded the final out in the top of the fifth.

Free State’s patience at the plate spearheaded the offensive onslaught. The Firebirds drew six walks on the night, and Ice said he wants his batters to consistently have a patient approach.

“That’s one of the things we preach about a lot,” Ice said. “You have to be aggressive but patient at the same time. You’ve got to be a patient hitter to get your pitch, and not hit their pitch.”

Tatum Clopton and Emma Stanwix each drew walks off Shawnee Mission West pitcher Delaney Furminger in a first inning in which Free State scored two runs. Sara Roszak and Grace Patchen each hit an RBI single in the frame.

The Firebirds added two more runs in the second on a single, walk and two hit batters. With two outs and the bases loaded, Stanwix drove a ball straight to left fielder Anissa Denniston, but the ball fell out of her glove and it allowed Georgia Rea and Roszak to scamper home.

The early offensive production was all that pitcher Morgan Leslie would need in the circle. Leslie allowed just four hits in five scoreless innings. Leslie didn’t record a strikeout, but Ice said she is at her best when she pitches to contact.

The junior starter forced 12 groundouts in her outing.

“That’s what she’ll give us,” Ice said. “She’s going to pitch to contact.”

Leslie retired the final seven batters she faced — all on groundouts.

“With Morgan on the mound … we know we’re going to have to score some runs,” Ice said. “She’s going to pitch us to contact, and we’ve got to play defense.”

Free State produced its best offensive inning in the third, when the Firebirds scored six runs. The barrage was highlighted by Haley Lockwood-Peterson and Lauryn Jones, who each hit a two-run triple in the frame. Rea and Clopton each added an RBI single in the inning.

“We swung the bats OK,” Ice said. “Took advantage of some of their mistakes, and that’s where the score should have been, in my opinion.”

Shawnee Mission West 000 00 — 0 4 1

Free State 226 0x — 10 7 0

3B–Haley Crane, SMW; Lockwood-Peterson, FSHS; Jones, FSHS.

FSHS highlights–Leslie, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 K; Rea, 2 for 2, 3 R, HBP, SB, RBI; Roszak, 1 for 1, 2 R, HBP, walk; Clopton, 1 for 1, R, 2 BB; Jones, 1 for 3, 2 RBI; Lockwood-Peterson, 2 for 2, HBP, run, 2 RBI.