During one last push by Olathe East in the seventh inning, Free State baseball coach Mike Hill decided to pay junior reliever Jake Zenger a visit on the mound.

With the Firebirds clinging to a one-run lead, and with runners on first and second and one out for the Hawks, Hill had a message for Zenger.

“He’s like, ‘You’ve got to be a competitor out there,'” Zenger said. “‘It’s time to go right now. Show who you really are. We’re not losing right here. We’ve gotta have it.'”

During the next at-bat against Olathe East’s Brandon Fox, Zenger threw a fastball that dribbled past catcher Cam Karlin, which allowed the runners to each advance a base.

But Zenger kept on competing.

The side-arm-throwing righty ultimately struck out Fox and got a groundout from Nick Best to eliminate the threat and secure a 4-3 win for the Firebirds on Thursday at FSHS.

Zenger recorded a six-out save and struck out three batters out of the bullpen.

“I’m just super thrilled that we held on,” Zenger said. “I think we just showed a lot of perseverance and didn’t give up. (We had) a lot of heart.”

Before the sixth, Zenger relieved sophomore starter David Stuart, who struck out three batters in five innings of work.

Early on, Stuart attacked hitters and worked efficiently on the mound. He retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced without having to throw many pitches.

However, Olathe East scored three runs in the fifth, which led to Hill’s decision to turn to Zenger.

Still, Stuart said he was pleased with his start.

“I was really happy with what I did,” Stuart said. “I think I performed pretty well. Late into the game, they started to find my pitches, but I just had confidence that our defense would work it out and that we could get out of (trouble).”

Like Zenger, Stuart pitched his way out of an Olathe East threat. With Free State leading in the fifth, 4-3, and runners on first and second with two out for Olathe East, Stuart forced a groundout from Fox to end the inning.

Hill credited Stuart’s effectiveness to his ability to consistently throw his pitches for strikes.

“That’s what we’ve had out of him the last couple times he’s been on the mound,” Hill said. “This is only his second start. He began the year in the bullpen and every time out, he’s taken a step forward.”

Free State (10-5) built an early lead for Stuart after an RBI single from Peyton Sparks in the second, an RBI double from Jake Baker in the third and two runs off an Olathe East error in the fourth.

Baker proved to be the most productive player in Free State’s lineup. He reached base safely in each of his at-bats, drawing two walks in addition to his double.

“We faced some pretty good pitchers today. Really wanted to jump on their fastball as much as I could,” Baker said. “And I didn’t want to fall behind in the count a lot. All the credit to the coaches for preparing us this week.”

Hill said his team’s ability to hold onto the lead and secure the win is a product of the progress his new-look team has made after graduating 16 seniors.

“(We) showed some guts,” Hill said. “We’re starting to grow up a little bit. It’s not a ballgame we would have won three or four weeks ago. But we’re starting to show some competitiveness.”

Olathe East 000 030 0 — 3 7 0

Free State 011 200 x — 4 4 1

W–Stuart. L–Spencer Nelson. S–Zenger.

2B–Fox, Olathe East; Devon Lujan, Olathe East; Baker, Free State.

Free State highlights–Stuart, 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K; Zenger, 2 IP, 3 H, 3 K; Baker, 1 for 1, two walks, run, stolen base; Quinton Graham, 1 for 2, walk; Sparks, 1 for 3, RBI.