photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High outfielder Hailey Ramirez runs back to the dugout after scoring during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

After leading most of the way on the strength of one of their best offensive games of the season, it was only natural for the Lawrence High softball players’ heads to drop after Free State scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take a two-run lead on Saturday at LHS.

The key, however, was that Lions’ heads didn’t stay there. Junior Hailey Ramirez, head coach Steve Seratte and a few others in the Lions’ dugout made sure of that. And then the home team went out and answered the Firebirds’ surge with one of their own to take a thrilling 12-11 victory at LHS.

“All the momentum was with Free State, but when we came into the dugout, not a single person doubted what we could do,” said LHS junior Hailey Ramirez, who scored the game winning run for the second time this week. “Everyone knew what had to be done and what we say is, ‘Find a way.’ That’s exactly what we did and I’ve never been more proud of this team.”

The win was the first for the Lions over their crosstown rivals since 2018.

It featured 15 hits, 10 stolen bases and three innings, including the seventh, in which the Lions (3-9) scored three or more runs. In all, five different Lions recorded RBIs,

“We’ve got speed and we can make things happen,” Seratte said after the win. “I think the pressure we put on them today really affected the game overall. We just haven’t been getting on base, but I knew once we did, we would start creating stuff for our offense.”

That’s exactly what happened time and time again on Saturday. Junior Emmersyn Dye recorded five hits and stole four bases. Ramirez recorded a double, a triple and five runs to go along with her three stolen bases. And freshman Harper Dye, sophomore Charlee Burghart and freshman Madalyn Crawford also delivered multiple hits and crossed home plate.

None were bigger than Crawford’s single to leadoff the seventh and Harper Dye’s double that tied the game at 11 apiece and put the Ramirez on third base, representing the winning run.

With senior catcher Chase Burghart coming up to bat, the Lions found themselves in the exact same position they were in in a walk-off win over Olathe South on Thursday.

Like she did that day, Chayse Burghart delivered again, hitting a shot to Free State shortstop Abry Hill that led to the final run.

After fielding it cleanly, Hill fired home trying to cut down Ramirez. But the throw was a touch high and Ramirez’s speed allowed her to cross home plate with the game’s final run.

“I’m thinking, ‘Chayse, just do what you do. I’ll get in,'” Ramirez said after the victory. “Whatever I had to do, I was coming home.”

The fact that the Lions were in that position was a testament to the fight shown by the Firebirds (8-5). Trailing 5-2 after three innings, 8-4 after four and 9-5 heading into the sixth inning, Free State scored six runs in the final two innings and nearly stole the victory.

Senior Kenzie Marcum (5-for-5 with 4 RBIs) and sophomore Megan Kohl recorded RBIs in the top of the sixth, driving in Elsa Carrillo and Leah Muehler to get the Firebirds back in the game.

Then, after senior pitcher Kay Lee Richardson retired the Lions 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth, FSHS junior Alena Velilla launched a home run to dead center field to tie the game at 9 in the first at-bat of the seventh.

Mueller, who homered earlier and finished with four hits and four runs scored, then followed with a one-out double and Marcum ripped a home run over the left-field fence to give the visitors an 11-9 lead.

“We have proven over and over again that we can get our bats going if we need to,” said Velilla. “We need to get them going earlier, but I’m super proud of everyone on my team and I love playing with these girls.”

Of her game-tying home run, from the nine spot in the Firebirds’ batting order, Velilla said her goal at the plate was to just have fun.

“It was really exciting,” she said. “I’ve kind of been in a slump and I just did it for my team. These are always my favorite types of games. It is a bummer that we lost, but it was a lot of fun.”

No one had more fun than the Lions, who celebrated with a dance circle, featuring Seratte, in left field after the victory and left the field with even more confidence than they had when they arrived.

“We had so much adrenaline coming into this game,” said LHS junior Maelee Folks, who pitched six innings during Saturday’s win. “I don’t think we could’ve been any more ready.”

Folks did not get the victory on the mound on Saturday. That went to sophomore Taylor Zeckser, who also got the win on Thursday. But Folks said Zeckser finishing the game on the mound and the Lions digging deep in the dugout was perfectly illustrated what this team is all about.

“When (Velilla) hit the home run, I was just like, ‘OK.’ I knew Taylor was going to come in and take care of it,” Folks said. We all had each other’s backs that whole entire game and it just means so much to beat them.”

Added Seratte: “I’ve told them all along that if we beat teams in the Sunflower League that’s saying something. We just needed to convince them that they can play with these guys. It was a great week.”

These two rivals will play again on May 3 at Free State High.

LHS 12, Free State 11

FSHS 101 213 3 — 11 16 1

LHS 104 310 3 — 12 15 3

W – Taylor Zeckser, L – Kay Lee Richardson

Highlights for LHS: Hailey Ramirez 2-for-5, 2B, 3B, 5 runs, 3 SB; Emmersyn Dye 5-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 runs, 4 SB; Chayse Burghart 2-for-5, 2 RBI, run; Charlee Burghart 1-for-4, 2 RBI; Harper Dye 2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs, 3 SB.

Highlights for FSHS: Leah Mueller 4-for-5, HR, 2B, 4 runs, RBI; Kenzie Marcum 5-for-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 runs; Kay Lee Richardson 2-for-3, 2B; Grace Rockwell 1-for-4, 2 RBI, run; Alena Velilla 1-for-4, HR, RBI, run.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High outfielder Charlee Burghart slides into second base during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State celebrates a home run at the plate during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free second baseman Jasmine Brixius waits for a pitch during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State short stop Abry Hill walk back to first base during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High third baseman Layla Harjo throws the ball to first base during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High pitcher Maelee Folks winds up for a pitch during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High coach Steve Seratte talks to his player during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State first baseman Kenzie Macrum dives to second base during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State pitcher Kinsey Clopton throws the ball at the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State short stop Abry Hill makes contact with a pitch during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State short stop Abry Hill announces the outs during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State second baseman Jasmine Brixius watches an umpire during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High outfielder Hailey Ramirez runs back to the dugout after scoring during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High coach Steve Seratte talks to his team during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State pitcher Kay Lee Richardson looks at the dugout during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High outfielder Hailey Ramirez smiles at the dugout during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State pitcher Kay Lee Richardson pitches the ball during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State short stop Abry Hill fields the ball during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence Free State short stop Abry Hill throws the ball during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Lawrence High pitcher Maelee Folks shows emotion after a run is scored during the city showdown on Saturday, April 23.