photo by: Zac Boyer/Journal-World

A view of the Kansas baseball team's Hoglund Ballpark on June 15, 2022.

The annual River City Baseball Festival returns to town on Thursday with 33 high schools ready to showcase their talents on the diamond.

Games will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with host sites split between Hoglund Ballpark, Free State and Lawrence High. The action starts on Thursday at 9 a.m. with Blue Springs South (Mo.) and Olathe Northwest at Free State; Blue Springs (Mo.) and Olathe West will play at LHS.

Here’s the outlook for Free State and LHS heading into this year’s River City Baseball Festival.

Free State

The Firebirds, whose nine-game winning streak was snapped in a 3-1 loss at Olathe West on Thursday, are making another play for a state tournament berth this season.

Free State, which is fielding one of the youngest rosters in coach Mike Hill’s recent memory, overcame the early loss of senior righthander Tyler Vigna and currently sits at No. 2 in the Class 6A West region.

Coming into his first year with a bang, Ben Graves (.583 ERA) has displayed real promise through 24 innings pitched. The freshman is 4-0 through four starts, leading the pitching staff with 24 strikeouts — a stat Ben shares with his older brother, Kyle.

Kyle Graves (.700 ERA), a junior, is 2-0 through three starts and 20 innings pitched. Junior Tyler Jeffries (.700 ERA) is another dependable arm for the Firebirds, holding a 3-1 record through four starts with 15 total strikeouts.

At the plate, Kyle Graves (.333 AVG) and sophomore Ryan Weishaar (.317 AVG) have led the way for Free State.

Kyle Graves has had a team-best three triples this season, batting 12-for-36 with six RBIs, so far. Weishaar leads the Firebirds with seven RBIs.

Next up, the Firebirds host Mill Valley on Monday at 5:30 p.m. before opening the festival schedule against Rockhurst (Mo.) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Lawrence High

Showing promising signs after a sluggish start, the Chesty Lions enter this year’s festival looking to gain serious momentum.

LHS (6-6) has won four of its last five games, including a 4-2 road victory over Shawnee Mission West on Saturday.

Senior Brooks Jones (1-2, 1.615 ERA), junior Vaughn Wells (2-2, 3.333 ERA) and freshman Jack Pfeifer (1-0, 1.375 ERA) have led LHS through the bulk of the regular-season schedule. Senior Noah Kirk (1.957 ERA) and Sammy Stoll (0-1, 2.857) have also shown flashes through just 15 combined innings. Additionally, senior closer Tyson Grammer (0-0, .273 ERA) and junior newcomer Kyan Guss (1-0, 0 ERA) have both earned LHS coach Brad Stoll’s trust on the mound.

At the plate, juniors Connor Nowak (.417 AVG) and Tyson Grammer (.324 AVG) are two of LHS’ best sluggers.

In Friday’s win over SM West, Nowak shined batting 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Additionally, senior Dominic Ostronic (.235 AVG) and junior Koen Myers (.250 AVG) are two more Lions worthy of any opposing pitcher’s scouting report.

Next up, LHS travels to Olathe Northwest on Monday with first pitch slated for 5:30 p.m. Then, Lawrence will meet Southern Boone (Mo.) at 3:45 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark for its first matchup of the festival.

Friday softball roundup

The Lawrence High softball team snapped its six-game losing streak with a 7-5 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Shawnee Heights on Friday night.

In the first game, junior Taylor Zeckser allowed five runs on 10 hits, two walks and two strikeouts through a full seven innings. Senior Emme Dye led LHS at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with a big-time grand slam in the sixth that ultimately won the game.

Additionally, senior Hailey Ramirez finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double; senior Ashlynn Flory batted 2-for-3 chipping with an RBI; and freshman Ava Mondi finished the night 2-for-3 at the plate.

In the second game, the Lady Lions (5-9) never recovered after a troublesome fourth inning and fell 11-3 to the Thunderbirds.

Things were positive early on, with LHS jumping out to a 2-1 lead in the first.

Freshman Sophie Rowley gave up two runs through the second inning and six more before LHS coach Mike Byrn placed freshman Keira Norris on the hill in the sixth. Norris finished with three runs allowed on six hits and four strikeouts through 2.0 innings.

At the plate, the Lady Lions racked up 10 total hits but failed to score after the second. Seniors Dye, Ramirez and sophomore Lydia Folks all finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Folks contributed two RBIs, with another coming from Dye.

LHS hosts Mill Valley on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

In Bonner Springs, the Free State softball team picked up a 7-3 win over the Braves on Friday night. The Lady Firebirds (5-7) jumped out to an early two-run lead and kept their pace up the rest of the way.

Free State starting pitcher Elsa Carrillo allowed just three runs by the Braves, one in the fourth and two in the fifth, on six total hits, four walks and nine strikeouts through a full seven innings.

Senior Leah Mueller’s two-run homer in the first was the highlight of the night for the Lady Firebirds. Mueller finished 2-for-3 at the plate, with three RBIs and two runs. Senior Alena Velilla also had a strong performance at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs for Free State.

Free State travels to Gardner Edgerton on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.