photo by: Carter Gaskins

In this file photo, Free State's Sara Roszak (23) leads the team's postgame celebration seconds after the Firebirds secure the final out in their second consecutive Class 6A state title on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Arrocha Ballpark.

Despite not playing in 2020 due to the pandemic, Free State’s softball team picked up where it left off by earning a 10-2 road win over Olathe Northwest in the season opener Tuesday.

The Firebirds, who are coming off back-to-back state titles, didn’t score in the top of the first before plating all 10 runs over the next five frames.

FSHS recorded eight hits in the win, led by multi-hit efforts from senior shortstop Sara Roszak and freshman Kinsey Clopton. Roszak went 2-for-2 with one RBI and three runs scored, while also clubbing a home run. Clopton posted a 2-for-4 clip with one RBI and two runs scored.

Junior right fielder McKenzie Marcum drove in three runs off a double in her lone at-bat. Senior Robin Todd tallied a double for the Firebirds, while senior Samantha Bradbury came through with a base knock from the No. 9 spot in the lineup.

Senior pitcher Tatum Clopton, who is a two-time Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, earned the win for FSHS. Clopton allowed two runs off three hits over seven innings, while striking out 17 batters in her first action of the year.

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

FSHS 0 1 1 3 2 3 0 — 10 runs 8 hits 2 errors

ONW 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 — 2 runs 3 hits 3 errors

WP — Tatum Clopton 7 IP, 2R 3H, 17K, 7BB.

LHS softball loses league opener

Lawrence High’s softball team was also on the road for its Sunflower League opener, suffering a 12-1 loss at Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday.

The Lions are now 0-3 to start the season following two hard-fought losses at Manhattan High over the weekend.

LHS will get its home opener when it hosts Shawnee Mission South at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. It will be a part of a busy day at Lawrence High, as softball, baseball and girls soccer all have home games on Thursday.

Veritas baseball earns first win

After a 7-6 loss to Blue Valley North in the season opener on Saturday, the Veritas baseball team bounced back to record a 18-11 victory over St. Mary’s Academy on Monday. The Eagles are now 1-1.

During a windy game, the Veritas bats were scorching hot. Will Bartkoski went 3-for-4 with six RBIs and two doubles. Draven Webb was 3-for-4 with five RBIs and a triple. Eli Ferrell posted a 2-for-3 line with three RBIs, while TJ Crews drove in two runs on his lone hit.

Ameer Dowdell, Brett Brownlee and Sam Fox all finished with two hits as well. The Eagles scored multiple runs in each of the first five innings of action, recording 14 total hits as a team.

Veritas will travel to Bishop Miege at 4:45 p.m. Monday.

STMR 0 3 6 0 0 2 0 — 11 runs 5 hits 1 error

VCHS 3 3 5 3 4 0 X — 18 runs 14 hits 8 errors

Sisters lead Seabury soccer to season-opening victory

Behind three scores from two sisters, Bishop Seabury’s girls soccer team secured a 3-0 win over Cornerstone on Tuesday night at the Sunflower soccer complex in Topeka.

Junior Summer Hartzler scored twice in the first half for the Seahawks. Hannah Hartzler then registered the third score on the first possession of the second half. Both players finished with one assist apiece as well.

Senior forward Morgan Orozco also recorded one assist. Junior goalkeeper Brooke Spurlock was credited with the shutout.

Bishop Seabury will travel to Topeka Heritage Christian School at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

LHS boys tennis claims runner-up

Behind a well-rounded effort, Lawrence High’s boys tennis team began the 2021 campaign with a runner-up finish at the Emporia Invitational on Tuesday.

All three singles players and all three doubles teams notched fifth or better for the Lions, who scored 34 points as a team. Andover Central won the eight-team event with a total score of 35.

Sam Lopez made it to the finals match in No. 2 singles before losing to finish in second place. Henry Adams also placed second in the No. 3 singles bracket. Drew Dean and Cuyler Dunn tallied third in the No. 1 doubles division.

The rest of the LHS competitors lost in the opening round, but pushed their way through the bracket to finish in fifth to score as many points as possible. Diego Kish (No. 1 singles), Kirk Johnson and Aydan Ammann (No. 2 doubles) and Zach Micka and Ryan Hardie (No. 3 doubles) all came in fifth in the first meet of the season.

Emporia Invitational

Tuesday at Emporia HS

Team scores: 1. Andover Central 35; 2. Lawrence 34; 3. Shawnee Heights 29; 4. Hayden 27; 5. Topeka High 24; 6. Collegiate 20; 7. Emporia 15; 8. Ottawa 11.

No. 1 singles: Diego Kish — 5th

No. 2 singles: Sam Lopez — 2nd

No. 3 singles: Henry Adams — 2nd

No. 1 doubles: Drew Dean/Cuyler Dunn — 3rd

No. 2 doubles: Kirk Johnson/Aydan Ammann — 5th

No. 3 doubles: Zach Micka/Ryan Hardie — 5th