photo by: Chance Parker

Free State shortstop Brady Kern attempts to get a hit against Shawnee Mission North. Free State won 9-4 Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Behind a six-run effort in the bottom of the second, Free State’s baseball team earned a 9-4 home win over Shawnee Mission North Thursday night.

The Firebirds improved to 4-2 (1-1 in Sunflower League play).

The big second-inning showing started with a leadoff walk to Brady Kern and a single by Harrison Juhl. Matt Gabriel then drove in the first run on a double to center, and Calvin Urish later added an RBI single.

The highlight of the frame was Joey Wood’s two-run triple. Maddox Burkitt brought home the final two runs of the inning on a base hit.

Both Urish and Burkitt led the way offensively with two hits apiece. Michael Uhler got the start, and allowed one earned run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings of work. He whiffed four batters and walked three more in the win.

Free State will host Olathe North at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

FSHS 9, SM North 4

SMN 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 — 4 runs 4 hits 2 errors

FSHS 0 6 0 0 2 1 X — 9 runs 9 hits 3 errors

LHS baseball keeps on winning

Lawrence High’s baseball team extended its win streak to five in a row with a 7-2 home victory over Shawnee Mission East on Thursday.

The Lions (5-1, 2-0 Sunflower League) scored four runs in the first and never looked back. Two of those runs were due to miscues by the opposition, but Karson Green drove in a run on a single and August Reed added an RBI groundout as well.

Lawrence added to its advantage with one run in each of the next three frames. Blake Schimmel brought in a run on a single to right in the third, and Green plated another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly.

Green went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one walk. Braden Hoffman was the only other LHS player to post multiple hits; he went 2-for-2 at the plate. Devin Neal recorded Lawrence’s lone extra-base hit — a double — to go along with his two walks.

The Lions also stole six bases as a team.

Pitcher Ike Cobb, who got the start for the Lions, allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over five innings. He struck out three batters and walked three as well. Charlie Elsten pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

LHS will travel to Olathe East at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Lawrence 7, SM East 2

SME 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 — 2 runs 3 hits 0 errors

LHS 4 1 1 1 0 0 X — 7 runs 7 hits 2 errors

Lawrence softball secures 17-2 win

Lawrence High’s softball team had plenty to be proud of Thursday in its first home game since 2019 — a 17-2 shellacking of Shawnee Mission South.

After the two teams each had a run in the first, the Lions scored 12 runs in the second. LHS (1-3) added four more runs in the third before the game was eventually called because of the run rule.

Sophomore pitcher Maelee Folks (1-2) was credited with the win after allowing two runs on three hits. She also added two hits and two RBIs on offense. Sydney Delfelder cleared the bases on a triple to spark the 12-run outburst in the second.

Lawrence junior Layla Harjo, who loaded the bases for Delfelder with a bunt single, finished with two hits. Hailey Ramirez scored three runs, and freshman Laci Thompson drove in a run on a double in the third. Sophomore Gabbie Vasquez also had a two-run single as a pinch hitter.

LHS will travel to Shawnee Mission West on Tuesday.

SMS 1 0 1 — 2

LHS 1 12 4 — 17

LHS tennis loses in home opener

Lawrence High’s boys tennis team was overwhelmed by Olathe West in a 12-1 home loss Wednesday afternoon.

The lopsided loss came just one day after the Lions finished in second place at the Emporia Invitational. Lawrence’s lone victory on Thursday came from No. 1 doubles tandem Drew Dean and Cuyler Dunn, who won their match 8-6.

Next, LHS will compete in a quadrangular at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Washburn Rural.

Lawrence 1, Olathe West 12

Wednesday at LHS

LHS results

No. 1 doubles: Drew Dean/Cuyler Dunn, 8-6 win

No. 2 doubles: Diego Klish/Sam Lopez, 8-0 loss

No. 3 doubles: Henry Adams/Jack Stutler, 8-2 loss

No. 4 doubles: Carson Toews/Ryan Hardie, 8-7 (7-3) loss

No. 1 singles: Cuyler Dunn, 8-4 loss

No. 2 singles: Drew Dean, 8-3 loss

No. 3 singles: Diego Klish, 8-5 loss

No. 4 singles: Sam Lopez, 8-2 loss

No. 5 singles: Kirk Johnson, 8-1 loss

No. 6 singles: Henry Adams, 8-1 loss

No. 7 singles: Jack Stutler, 8-6 loss

No. 8 singles: Aiden Avon Feldt, 8-2 loss

No. 9 singles: Carson Schraad, 8-2 loss