photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence senior Maddy Crawford (1) is welcomed to home plate by teammates after rounding the bases against Free State on Thursday, April 10, 2025, during the City Showdown softball game at Free State High School in Lawrence.

The Lawrence High softball team (7-2) got off to a quick start and remained steady on defense, taking down Free State 4-1 on the road in the City Showdown on Thursday night.

The Lions tallied nine hits, including two home runs by senior Maddy Crawford, to defeat the Firebirds for the first time in nearly three years.

“I think we swung the bats pretty well all day,” Lawrence head coach Mike Byrn said. “We had nine hits on the day, but none of them were really strung together, so the home runs were important because it puts you on the board.”

Added Crawford: “I’ve been struggling with my bat, so being able to wait on (a pitch), and then especially this being a rivalry game, it meant a lot.”

Byrn added that although Crawford has had an up-and-down start to the season, seeing her find barrels against Free State was “really good.”

Freshman Jace Feurt got the start in the circle for Free State (2-6), and although she’s dealt with injuries to begin the season, she has impressed head coach Charley Bowen so far.

“We thought she did really well against Olathe North (Tuesday night), and that’s the reason we started her tonight,” Bowen said. “I think she went out and in a game like this, where it is Lawrence High versus Free State, I thought she did a good job.”

Lawrence High wasted no time getting the scoring started, as the first of Crawford’s home runs came just three batters into the game, driving in Zoey Barber to take an early 2-0 lead.

Keira Norris got the start in the circle for the Lions and made quick work of the Firebirds’ lineup in the bottom of the first, recording two strikeouts and ending the inning with a popup that came right back to her.

“She’s been great, but she’s done that all year for us,” Byrn said. “And where she’s been really clean, it’s not just the strikeouts, it’s the pitch location and limited number of pitches.”

Crawford added that what makes Norris tough to face is her rotation on off-speed pitches, as well as her ability to change pitch velocity at a high level.

Free State posed its first scoring threat in the bottom of the second as Kendall Feurt began the inning with a leadoff walk. After a strikeout and a groundout that moved Feurt to second, Mallary Hice kept the inning alive and moved Feurt to third with an infield single. Hice stole second to put both runners in scoring position, but Norris got the third out of the inning with a strikeout.

The Firebirds broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with a solo home run by Sophia Halton. Norris finished the inning without allowing further damage, getting all three outs by strikeouts.

The Lions quickly got the run back in the top of the fourth, started by a triple by Julia Norris, whom Reese Dannevik drove in one batter later with a groundout to make it 3-1. The Lions stayed alive as Harper Dye got on base with a two-out single, but a lineout to Halton ended the Lawrence threat.

Norris retired the side in the bottom of the fourth, then Lawrence added to its lead on the first pitch of the top of the fifth with Crawford’s second home run.

Both offenses went down in order in their next opportunities to bat before the Free State offense showed a sign of life in the bottom of the sixth. Halton started the inning with a single before Norris settled back in and retired the next three hitters, ending the inning with a strikeout.

AJ Collins pitched for Free State in the final inning, allowing three walks with two outs, but ultimately got out of the inning without allowing a run.

With Free State needing three runs to keep the game going, Collins began the bottom of the seventh with a walk. Norris, much like she had all game, remained unfazed and finished off the Firebirds by striking out the side.

While the Firebirds didn’t scratch any runs across in the final four innings, Bowen was pleased with his team’s ability to put together long at-bats and says that will be the key to success on offense moving forward.

“Just have a different approach, we have to be a little more tougher,” he said, “and I think it’s something we just got to shorten up a little bit and be better at it.”

While the Firebirds have now lost four straight, Bowen still has confidence in his group.

“Just hang in there and believe the process,” he said to his team afterwards. “If we keep putting the effort in like that by the end of the year, I think we’ll be fine.”

Meanwhile, Byrn says the rivalry win is always nice but wishes the game was played at a later time in the season.

“They’ve got a lot of young kids, and we have a few, and it gives them a chance to establish themselves a little more,” Byrn said. “I think Charley is going to have a good ball club as they move on in the season, but I thought we did what we were supposed to do. We came out and won, which is what I expected us to do.”

Lawrence will host Shawnee Mission Northwest on Monday, while Free State will play at Olathe South on Tuesday.

Line score

Lawrence 200 110 0 – 4 9 0

Free State 001 000 0 – 1 3 1

W – K. Norris; L – J. Feurt

Highlights for LHS: Crawford 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB; Spinelli 2-3, BB; K. Norris 7.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 14 K.

Highlights for FSHS: Halton 2-3, R, RBI; J. Feurt 6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 K.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Zoey Barber prepares to swing at a Free State pitch on Thursday, April 10, 2025, during the City Showdown softball game at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Mallary Hice steals second base as Lawrence High’s Harper Dye comes to cover the bad during the City Showdown softball game on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence senior Lydia Folks watches the ball into her glove to record an out against Free State during the City Showdown game on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence junior Keira Norris deals a pitch to a Free State batter on Thursday, April 10, 2025, during the City Showdown softball game at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence senior Maddy Crawford rounds first base after hitting a home run in the first inning of the City Showdown softball game at Free State High School in Lawrence on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State freshman Jace Feurt warms up before facing the Lawrence High lineup on Thursday, April 10, 2025, during the City Showdown game at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Gia Miele, Sonomi Klaus, and Jace Feurt (left to right) stand at the pitcher’s circle during the national anthem prior to their City Showdown game against Lawrence on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Free State High School in Lawrence.