Lawrence High senior Anna Chieu makes a move past a Gardner-Edgerton defender during the second half of a match Thursday night at LHS on April 4, 2019. Chieu scored five goals and recorded one assists in the 6-3 win.

Lawrence High senior Anna Chieu fell to the turf in disbelief as her final shot attempt missed just left of the goal.

Chieu had three good looks, including one in the final seconds of Lawrence’s 6-3 win over Gardner-Edgerton, to finish off the double hat trick. Gardner-Edgerton goalie Maea Ploetz staved off two other breakaway attempts by Chieu in the final 10 minutes of the contest.

In the end, Chieu finished with a career-best five goals to go along with one assist.

“She could have had eight goals, if that goalie wasn’t on her ‘A’ game in the second half,” LHS head coach Matthew McCune said. “That was just the nature of the game. They played a high line and we were able to get in space. She was able to go right by them.”

Moments after her five-goal performance, Chieu was embraced by Ploetz. The two played together on the same club team. Although she bested her former teammate five times on the night, Chieu admitted that her shots that ended up getting denied were deflating.

“I wanted the two hat tricks so bad,” Chieu said. “I think it is fun to play against people you know.”

The five-score outing is one goal more than the previous high by an LHS player under McCune, who is in his fourth season at the helm.

It was evident from the start that it was going to be a special night for the Lawrence senior, however. Chieu, who hadn’t scored a goal through the first three matches of the season, netted a goal within the first 90 seconds of the contest on a bicycle kick.

“That was the most-important goal,” McCune said. “If you score first in soccer, especially that early and in that fashion, it can be detrimental to the other team if you keep that momentum going. Tonight, she did and she didn’t let off.”

The second score by Chieu came a few minutes later. After Olathe East evened the score, Chieu put two more in to give Lawrence a 4-2 lead at the intermission. Chieu began the second half with an assist to sophomore Marley Sears before eventually notching her fifth goal of the night.

Still, it ended up being two more scores than Chieu had intended on netting.

“I woke up this morning and said I was going to get a hat trick,” Chieu said. “I think the energy by the team was great.”

Junior Kaila Bradfield helped the Lions (2-2) push the ball in transition. Junior Aliyah Anderson, sophomore Piper Leitch and freshman Avery Kingery were responsible for LHS maintaining possession for much of the night.

Junior Lana Chieu, senior Leslie Ostronic and freshman I’yawa Brewer made multiple stops on the defensive end. Sophomore goalkeeper Regan Turpin tallied a few saves in the second half to keep Lawrence in front.

Lawrence travels to Shawnee Mission West at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

LHS baseball is so close

The Lions could be on the cusp on something special.

Lawrence dropped an 1-0 decision to Olathe East Thursday night at LHS, which marked the team’s fourth one-run loss of the season. The only run of the game came via a stolen base, when the Hawks took a chance in the top of the fifth with two away.

But Lawrence head coach Brad Stoll believes that Thursday’s narrow defeat, as well the other three heartbreakers, could have easily gone in his team’s favor.

“I’m really proud of how tough our kids are, that is four one-run losses and it is bound to go our way,” Stoll said. “Nobody likes to lose, but I think they know they are playing at a pretty high level. We just have to continue to execute and I’m really excited about where we are going.”

LHS senior second baseman Garrett Romero steps up to the plate during a home game against Olathe West on March 28, 2019.

Things could easily start going in the Lions’ favor moving forward, and they showed in the latest scrappy defeat that there is a lot to like about this team.

Lawrence (3-4, 1-3 Sunflower League) put on a clinic defensively against Olathe East. Sophomore shortstop Carlos Vasquez was responsible for a head-up double play in the second with a pair of runners on. Senior third baseman Preston Harris started the third inning off by charging up on a grounder and completing the play on the run.

Senior right fielder Caleb Mondi capped off the third inning by tracking a ball in foul territory. Senior second baseman Garrett Romero and senior first baseman Hank Dobson made strong defensive plays as well. Vasquez made another tough play look routine in the seventh when he fielded a hard grounder and completed the putout with junior Aidan Bannister at first base.

“We always make plays on defense,” Mondi said. “That was one of our better games defensively. Every time we go out there on defense, I expect it to be easy for us. Our defense is just that good.”

The stellar defense backed a strong showing on the mound from freshman Grant Cleavinger, who lasted six innings. Cleavinger gave up just one run off five hits, striking out one batter and walking three more. Dobson pitched a clean seventh on nine pitches.

Lawrence’s offense recorded just four hits courtesy of Devin Neal, Payton Cummins, Dobson and Romero.

That last hurdle is just battling from the beginning,” Mondi said. “We are so used to playing from behind now. We need to take the lead from the beginning.”

LHS plays host to Shawnee Mission South at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

FSHS baseball thrashes Olathe North

Free State extended its win streak to six game with a 10-1 drubbing of Olathe North on the road Thursday night.

The Firebirds (6-2, 4-0 Sunflower League) scored four runs in the third and four in the seventh in the lopsided win. Cam Karlin was the only FSHS player to posted a multi-hit performance, notching two of Free State’s nine base hits. Jake Baker, Mitchell Clark, Creighton Cordova, Spencer Hughes, Jack Kallenberger, Colter Maldonado and Peyton Spark all recorded a base knock as well.

Free State junior shortstop Colter Moldonado reaches first safely in a game against Shawnee Mission West on April 3, 2019 at FSHS.

Ethan Bradford tossed six innings of one-run ball, allowing just one hit. The Nebraska signee struck out 10 batters and walked one. Jake Zenger allowed two hits in his one inning of relief for the Firebirds.

Free State plays host to Olathe South at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Free State swim nets first win

After a pair of runner-up finishes, Free State’s girls swim and dive team secured its first win of the year Thursday at the Topeka High Invitational.

The Firebirds scored 533 points, finishing well above Seaman’s mark of 308 points. Free State won seven of the 12 events, including a pair of relay races. Nora Agah, Abbey Hossler, Naomi Soderling and Kasey Dunn clocked a 4:07.56 to win the 400 freestyle relay. Hossler, Payton Krug, Dunn and Richa Joshi posted a time of 2:02.94 to win the 200-yard medley relay.

Dunn won the 200 freestyle (2:02.59) and 100 butterfly (1:01.46) for the Firebirds. Krug also won two individual races with first-place finishes in the 200-yard individual medley (2:21.35) and the 100 breaststroke (1:12.23). Kay Nisa Khosh won the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:04.29.

Free State will compete in a large meet at California Middle School at 5 p.m. today.

FSHS softball rolls to 14-3 win

Just two days after a walk-off win, Free State cruised to a 14-3 victory over Shawnee Mission Northwest Thursday.

Freshman Kay Lee Richardson, who actually was responsible for the game-winning hit, clubbed two home runs and five RBIs in the team’s latest league win. Tatum Clopton was the winning pitcher to help the Firebirds improve to 4-0.

Free State freshman Kay Lee Richardson takes a swing in the sixth inning of a game against Olathe South on April 2, 2019 at FSHS.

Free State plays host Olathe West at 1 p.m. Saturday.

LHS softball suffers two losses

Lawrence dropped both games of a doubleheader at Olathe East Thursday night.

The Lions were handed a 12-2 loss in the first game, though Karly Johnson clubbed a two-run homer in the first inning. LHS lost the nightcap by a 4-3 margin, despite recording eight hits compared to Olathe East’s five.

Victoria Droge and Angeline Harjo each finished with a single and a double for the Lions. Senior Kodi Tryon tallied a base knock in the second game as well. Kaylee McNish tossed six innings between the two contests.

LHS travels to Olathe Northwest at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.

FSHS girls soccer shutout

Just a couple days after pouring in eight scores, Free State’s girls soccer team was unable to find the back of the net.

Free State dropped a 6-0 decision to Olathe Northwest at home Thursday night. The Firebirds gave up four goals in the first half before surrendering a pair of scores in the second half. Free State played three games this week, winning one and recording a draw in the other.

FSHS travels to Shawnee Mission South at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Lawrence’s doubles tandem nets two more wins

Cooper Wright and Kanak Masten picked up two more wins at the Topeka West quadrangular Wednesday afternoon.

The No. 1 LHS doubles tandem went 2-1 in the event, leading the Lions to a third-place finish out of four teams. Wight and Masten now have a 5-1 clip on the season after going 3-0 in the first meet in Emporia.

Drew Dean, the team’s top singles player, recorded an 8-4 win over Kevin Corona of Topeka West for his lone victory of the day. Cuyler Dunn also won his only match in singles player, claiming an 8-1 decision over Luke Ottman of Topeka West.

Lawrence will compete in the City Series at 3 p.m. Tuesday at LHS.

Team scores: 1. Washburn Rural 11; 2. Seaman 7; 3. Lawrence 6; 4. Topeka West 0.

LHS results

No. 1 singles: Drew Dean, 1-2 — Dean dropped 8-0 decision to Mason Thieu of Washburn Rural; Dean recorded 8-4 win over Kevin Corona of Topeka West; Dean dropped 8-0 decision to Pietro Pergo of Seaman.

No. 2 singles: Kirk Johnson, 0-2 — Johnson dropped 8-2 decision to Jacek Holroyd of Washburn Rural; Johnson dropped 8-1 decision to Trey Duffey of Seaman.

No. 2 singles: Cuyler Dunn, 1-0 — Dunn recorded 8-1 win over Luke Ottman of Topeka West

No. 1 doubles: Cooper Wright and Kanak Masten, 2-1 — Wright and Masten dropped 8-4 decision to Manny Aquirre and Turner Seals of Washburn Rural; Wright/Masten recorded 8-2 win over Gabe Dobler and Justin Brookens of Topeka West; Wright/Masten recorded 8-4 win over Blake McCann and Cade Anderson of Seaman.

No. 2 doubles: Ryan Logan and Anthony Ramos, 1-1 — Logan/Ramos dropped 8-3 decision of Grant Brooke and Will Baker of Washburn Rural; Logan/Ramos recorded 8-2 win over Gavin Chavez and Ronnie Coleman of Topeka West.

No. 2 doubles: Ryan Logan and Cuyler Dunn, 1-0 — Logan/Dunn recorded 8-4 win over Bill Chandler and Andrew Patton of of Seaman.

Bishop Seabury freshman golfer records first win

It was a sensational debut for Bishop Seabury freshman Will Hedges.

Hedges shot a 75 to place first out of 54 golfers at the Bonner Springs Invitational at Sunflower Hills. Hedges finished four strokes better than any other player in the field, recording two birdies and 12 pars in his first meet of his high school career.

“I’m excited to get started on my freshman golf season and I’m thankful for the opportunity to play for Seabury,” Hedges said. “I’m glad this first tournament went well.”

Min Jung, the only other BSA golfer in the event, finished with a 109 for the day.

City basketball players make all-star game

Four city basketball players were named to the 2019 DiRenna All-Star game.

On the boys side, Lawrence High seniors Trey Quartlebaum and Clarence King were both named to the Kansas team along with Free State senior Noah Butler. LHS senior Chisom Ajekwu is the lone representative in the girls game.

The game is slated to place on Friday, April 12 at Shawnee Mission High School. The girls game will begin at 6 p.m., while the boys game is slated to start approximately at 7:45 p.m.