photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State junior Elsa Carrillo celebrates with her teammates after a strikeout against Shawnee Mission Northwest on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at Free State High School. The Lady Firebirds won 9-6.

A bumpy seventh inning didn’t stop the Free State softball team from finding the win column on Thursday, as the Firebirds passed Shawnee Mission Northwest 9-6 at home for their second win of the season.

Junior Elsa Carrillo earned the start, going a complete seven innings with six runs allowed on three hits, eight walks and 10 strikeouts.

Carrillo and the Lady Firebirds (2-2) watched their six-run lead shrink to just three in the seventh, but they escaped a late rally from the Cougars that saw Free State facing a loaded-bases situation with just one out.

“I wanted to get this win going into Saturday with our doubleheader.” Free State coach Charley Bowen said. “It may give them a little more confidence getting back on the win trail.”

To get the action started, Free State seniors Alena Velilla and Leah Mueller tripled consecutively in the bottom of the first, setting up a quick one-run lead for the Lady Firebirds. An RBI single by junior Megan Kohl drove in Mueller to send Free State up 2-0 before the side retired.

Building on her hot start, Carrillo picked up her third strikeout in the second inning to keep the Cougars silent. The Firebirds then kicked into high gear with a three-run RBI single by freshman Sophia Halton, and they had a five-run lead on Northwest heading into the third. Velilla tripled shortly before the side retired but didn’t find her way to home plate.

With two outs in the top of the third, the Cougars cut the Lady Firebirds’ lead to 5-2 thanks to an RBI double by Emma Doleshal. With two runners on base, Carrillo struck out Abby O’Connor to prevent any more damage from Northwest. A single by Kohl was the lone highlight for Free State in the third, and the Firebirds entered the fourth still holding their three-run lead.

Then, a seemingly in-and-out side for the Firebirds turned into a fully loaded bases situation for Carrillo following two singles and a walk in the top of the fourth. Facing Northwest’s Kala Givner on a 2-2 count, Carrillo struck out Givner swinging to save the inning.

Free State managed just one hit in the fourth and then saw its lead drop to 5-3 in the top of the fifth when Bennett Peck drove home Doleshal on an RBI single. But after the sides switched, an RBI triple by junior Grace Rothwell drove in Kohl from second for some late insurance.

Northwest, trailing by three runs with one out in the sixth, fell victim to a big-time double play by Rothwell and Kohl. Free State, taking advantage of four errors in the bottom of the sixth, stretched its lead out to 9-3 on RBI singles by Kohl and Carrillo.

In the top of the seventh, the Cougars managed to load the bases and pulled off a three-run rally. They then loaded the bases again, but Bailey Smith bailed out Carrillo on a fly ball to right, ending the late stand by Northwest.

Even though his team managed to hang on for the win, Bowen felt the Firebirds made themselves a bit too vulnerable.

“We just made too many mental errors,” Bowen said. “They put the ball in play, and that’s what you’re supposed to do. They pressured us, and sometimes we didn’t make the play, so credit to them.”

Next, Free State travels to Olathe West for a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Saturday.

BOX SCORE:

SM Northwest 002 010 3 – 6 3 3

Free State 230 013 X – 9 9 3

W – Elsa Carrillo; L – Rylee Barnett.

Highlights for Free State: Velilla 3-for-4, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Kohl 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, 1 R; Carrillo 7.0 IP. 3 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 8 BB, and 10 K.

LHS baseball falls to O-South at home

After four quiet innings at the plate, the Lawrence High baseball team’s late bats weren’t enough in Thursday’s 4-2 home loss to Olathe South.

Junior Tyson Grammer recorded the lone RBI for the Lions (2-5), finishing the day 1-of-2 at the plate with a run. Fellow juniors Sammy Stoll (1-for-3), Koen Myers (1-for-3) and Cale Paden (1-for-2) rounded out LHS’ four total hits.

LHS went with junior lefty Brooks Jones on the hill, and he allowed three runs on five hits through eight total innings. Jones finished the night with two walks and eight strikeouts. Senior Noah Kirk relieved Jones after the fifth, finishing the night with just one run allowed on two hits and striking out two Falcons at the plate along the way.

LHS travels to Shawnee Mission Northwest next Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.

Free State baseball sneaks past Olathe Northwest

The Free State baseball team defeated Olathe Northwest 3-2 in extras after being tied with the Ravens at two runs apiece since the second inning.

Junior Kyle Graves received the starting nod for the Firebirds (7-1), going five innings on the hill with two runs allowed on four hits. Graves walked four O-Northwest batters and finished with five strikeouts. Senior Adam Coup relieved Graves after the fifth, giving up just three hits and picking up a strikeout.

At the plate, junior Mason Lester recorded one of the game’s two RBIs — the other one came from O-Northwest’s Carson Shively — and sophomore Andrew Zimmerschied (2-for-3) posted a team-high two hits against the Ravens.

Free State hosts Olathe East at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Hot first inning pushes LHS softball past Olathe East

One inning of play was all the Lawrence High softball team needed to pass Olathe East 3-1 at home on Thursday night.

Opening the game with three runs in the bottom of the first, the Lady Lions (4-2) hung onto a two-run lead for the remaining six innings. Freshman Sophie Rowley got the start, allowing just one run on three hits through seven innings. Rowley ended with four walks and three strikeouts.

At the plate, senior Hailey Ramirez finished 2-for-3 with one run. Senior Emme Dye (1-for-3, 1 R) and sophomore Lydia Folks (1-for-1, 2 RBIs) each added a hit.

LHS travels to Olathe North at 11 a.m. Saturday.