photo by: Shane Jackson

Free State junior Maddox Burkitt completes a putout during a game against Belton Friday night at FSHS on April 23, 2021.

Free State’s baseball team turned in its best offensive performance of the season in a 16-6 win over Raymore-Peculiar on Saturday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

It was a good offensive weekend in general for the Firebirds. They scored a total of 34 runs while winning all three games in the River City Baseball Festival. FSHS (8-7) scored nine runs in each of the first two contests.

During the final game, Free State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI double from Brady Kern. The visitors answered with four runs in the top of the third, but the Firebirds took control of the contest with a nine-run outburst in the home half of the frame.

Maddox Burkitt started things off with an RBI single. Ben Stallard later drove in two runs on a double to left. Joey Wood followed suit with a single to left, which brought in two more runs for the Firebirds.

For good measure, Free State scored six more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Stallard started off the inning with a two-run single to center. Wood added an RBI base hit, while Harrison Juhl drove in two more runs on a single to left.

As a team, Free State finished with 15 hits in its latest win. Stallard, the No. 9 hitter for Free State, led the team with three hits and four RBIs. Wood, Juhl, Kern and Jake Roszak all finished with multiple hits. Wood drove in three RBIs, while Burkitt brought in two RBIs.

Tyler Vigna, Gage Callaghan and Burkitt all threw two innings apiece for the Firebirds. They gave up five hits and five earned runs as a pitching staff. Callaghan was credited with the win.

Free State will travel to Mill Valley at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

RYMP 0 0 4 0 2 0 X — 6 5 2

FSHS 0 1 9 0 0 6 X — 16 15 0