photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State junior Blaine Larkin watches his pitch sail across the plate during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

The weather seemingly warmed back up right alongside Free State pitcher Blaine Larkin in an 8-0 shutout win against Shawnee Mission North at home, as the junior struck out 10 batters and allowed three total hits through six innings on Wednesday.

FSHS, which now turns its attention to a road test in Fayetteville, Arkansas, compiled eight total hits to complement Larkin’s day on the mound. Four Firebirds – senior Kyle Graves, sophomore Ben Graves, freshman Finn Moore and freshman Ryker Mahnke – made it into the RBI column.

Senior catcher Tyler Jeffries had nothing but praise for Larkin, who’s quickly becoming a key name to follow in the Firebirds’ (7-0) starting rotation.

“He throws strikes, he competes in the zone and he relies on a great defense behind him,” Jeffries said.

Up 1-0 through the bottom of the first on an error, FSHS added three more runs to the board on a triple by Mahnke, a sacrifice RBI by Ben Graves and a single by Kyle Graves in the bottom of the second. Moore added a sacrifice RBI of his own in the third, pushing the Firebirds ahead 5-0 when the fourth inning arrived.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Mason Lester rips a ground ball over to first base during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Ben Graves (6) watches the ball soar during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

The Firebirds had amassed an 8-0 lead by the end of the sixth, as sophomore Zane Shaw delivered a shutout inning with no hits and two strikeouts for a seventh consecutive win.

Through the early stretch, coach Mike Hill has been pleased with where his group’s competition level is at, and he said the weekend trip down south will be another opportunity to take a step forward.

“We have a little reality waiting for us Friday night in Arkansas,” Hill said. “It’s going to be a good test for us. As a coach, there’s all these things you’ve been waiting to see early in the season, and I think, for the most part, we’ve been able to see them.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State junior Wesley Cupps (10) gets set for an at-bat during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Zane Shaw (11) celebrates with his teammates after an 8-0 shutout win over Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

FSHS travels to Fayetteville on Friday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

Box score

SM North 000 000 0 – 0 3 4

Free State 131 030 0 – 8 8 2

W – Larkin; L – Frame.

Highlights for Free State: Larkin 6.0 IP, 3 H, 10 K; Shaw 1.0 IP, 2K; Mahnke 2 H, 2 R, 2 RBI; Moore RBI; Cupps 2 H, 2 R; K. Graves 1 H, RBI; B. Graves 1 R, RBI.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State coach Mike Hill shares a chat with an umpire during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Mason Lester (5) takes a swing during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State junior Blaine Larkin lets it rip during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State sophomore Zane Shaw releases a pitch during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Tyler Jeffries throws the ball back to the mound during a home game vs. Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at FSHS.

O-North edges out LHS in seventh-inning squeaker

Rallying back with five runs in the seventh, Olathe North escaped the Lawrence High baseball team 6-5 at home on Wednesday. Senior Vaughn Wells got the start for LHS (4-2), completing five innings with nine total strikeouts.

A fielder’s choice by senior Connor Nowak and a single by senior Kyan Guss put the Lions ahead 3-0 by the end of the first. An RBI double by senior Sammy Stoll kept things moving in the second, as LHS led the Eagles 5-0 up until the fourth.

O-North, still trailing 5-1 at the top of the seventh, drove in five late runs off LHS junior Brice Schwada (2.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) – with three key runs crossing on an RBI double by senior Jake Bauer – to run away from the Lions.

Box score

O-North 000 100 5 – 6 6 1

Lawrence 320 000 0 – 5 5 4

W – Sarver; L – Schwada.

Highlights for LHS: Wells 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K; Guss 1 H, 2 RBI; Stoll 1 H, 2 RBI, Riggins 1 H, 1 R; Crawford 1 H, 2 R.