Free State handled Shawnee Mission South in an 8-1 home victory Wednesday night to get back in the win column.

The Firebirds (15-3, No. 1 in Class 6A) were coming off a 5-3 loss to Olathe East last week, which snapped a 14-game win streak. Free State recorded nine hits as a team, holding Shawnee Mission South to three hits in the team’s latest win.

Jack Kallenberger went deep with a solo shot to right in the second, scoring the first run of the contest. Cole Burenheide added another run later in the frame with a base knock. Free State scored four runs in the fourth, adding one in the third and one in the sixth en route to a lopsided win.

Camden Karlin notched three RBIs off two hits as the leadoff hitter for the Firebirds. Creighton Cordova drove in two runs as well. Jaxson Webb posted a multi-hit effort with a pair of singles. Colter Maldonado and Peyton Sparks both registered a double.

Ethan Bradford threw five innings of one-run ball, allowing two hits and recording six strikeouts. Michael Uhler and Jake Zenger each tossed a scoreless inning in relief.

Free State plays host to Shawnee Mission North at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Lawrence’s win streak snapped

The Lawrence High baseball team suffered a loss for the time in nearly a month.

Lawrence dropped an 1-0 decision to Shawnee Mission Northwest Wednesday night on the road. It ended a nine-game win streak by the Lions, who hadn’t lost since an 1-0 defeat against Olathe East on April 4. All five of Lawrence’s losses have come by one run this season.

Freshman Grant Cleavinger lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run off five hits to go along with three strikeouts and three walks. Hank Dobson handled the last two outs for the Lions, who only gave up six hits on the night.

Lawrence’s offense mustered just three hits, including a double by senior Garrett Romero. Senior Payton Cummins and Preston Harris each recorded a base knock. Shawnee Mission Northwest scored the game-winning run in the sixth.

Lawrence (12-5, No. 7 in Class 6A) plays host to Shawnee Mission East (No. 5 in Class 6A) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Veritas caps regular season on high note

The Veritas baseball team took down two rivals to finish the regular season off in a positive fashion.

VHS defeated St. Mary’s by a 15-0 margin and recorded a 14-3 win over the Midland Monarchs to pick up two wins before the postseason. The Eagles will compete in the state tournament in St. Mary’s on Friday and Saturday.

Draven Webb recorded four hits in six at-bats to lead the offensive attack. He collected three singles and one double, scoring five runs. Will Bartkoski was 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Levi Hawkins went 4-for-7 with five RBIs and a pair of triples. Jackson Rau drove in three runs on three hits.

Rau also tossed four shutout innings and gave up one hit in his lone start, striking out three batters and walking two. Bartkoski allowed no earned runs off three hits over four frames in his start. Landon Ream pitched one clean inning in relief, whiffing two batters in the process.