photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Free State celebrates near first base after the final run scores. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

What took the Free State High baseball team six innings to scratch out in Game 1 at regionals came in just one at-bat in the regional title game.

And Brady Kern made sure it counted.

With the fourth-seeded Firebirds still exhaling after battling for a 1-0 win over Junction City in Wednesday’s regional opener at Free State, Kern made sure that runs would not be a problem in the nightcap. Facing a 3-2 pitch, the junior shortstop launched a lead-off home run to right that set the tone for a 10-0, five-inning win over Dodge City that sent the Firebirds to next week’s 6A state tournament.

As soon as Kern made contact with the pitch, everyone in the park heard his father, Mark Kern, yell, “Get outta here” as he recorded the milestone.

The younger Kern said he had no idea the ball would clear the fence when he hit it. The fact that he was almost to second base when it went over proved that. But he heard his dad scream and that tipped him off.

“Once he yells, I know it’s got a chance,” said Kern, who added a single and a double in the Firebirds’ victory.

The home run was Kern’s first of the season, but it set off an explosion of runs for the Firebirds, who recorded 10 runs on 10 hits in support of starting pitcher Tyler Vigna, who pitched all five innings of the title game and gave up just one hit after FSHS ace Maddox Burkitt (12 strikeouts and just four hits in 6.1 innings) was equally as impressive in Game 1.

Aiding Vigna’s stint on the mound was a perfect pickoff play executed by FSHS catcher Will Dawson, who threw behind the Dodge City runner at first to end an early threat by the visitors in the top of the first inning.

Shortly after the play, during a mound visit from Dawson, Vigna smiled and said simply, “That’s one hell of a toss, kid.”

“That was huge,” Vigna said. “It took what could’ve been a big inning for them and put the momentum right back on our side.”

It never left.

The Firebirds (15-8) scored four in the first, three more in the second — on a bases-loaded, three-run double by Burkitt — two in the fourth and another in the bottom of the fifth. They likely would have kept scoring if not for the run-rule, as Grant Gregory’s single that plated freshman pinch hitter Ryan Weishaar came with the bases loaded and no outs.

“After the first inning, we really felt like it was our game,” Kern said after the victory.

Gregory ending Game 2 with an RBI seemed appropriate, given that he was the one who came home with the only run of the game in Game 1 on an RBI sacrifice fly by Calvin Urish in the bottom of the sixth inning.

FSHS coach Mike Hill said he sensed a relaxation come over his team after they survived Game 1.

“I think when you have a game like that, sometimes in that next game you just need one thing to get it going,” Hill said. “And we obviously got that from Brady and went from there.”

Even with Burkitt dealing on the mound in Game 1, Junction City put the tying run on third base in the top of the seventh inning. But FSHS closer, sophomore Kyle Graves, was up to the task of recording that final out and he got it when a Junction City batter grounded out to Mason Lester at second to end the game.

“I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous coming in,” Graves said. “But once I saw that ball hit to Mason, I knew he’d make the play and I think we all knew then that we’d win Game 2.

“This is what we do,” Graves added of reaching the state tournament.

Wednesday’s double-header sweep gave the Firebirds their 12th regional title and fourth in a row. They’ll head to Fort Scott next week looking to bring home the program’s third state title.

“This was a lot of fun,” Kern said. “But it’s a one-day thing. We’ve got bigger things to play for than just a regional title.”

Game 1: Free State 1, Junction City 0

JC 000 000 0 — 0 4 1

FS 000 001 X — 1 4 1

Win – Maddox Burkitt L – Kell

Highlights for Free State: Burkitt 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 12 K, 3 BB and 2-3; Grant Gregory 1-2, run, walk; Calvin Urish 0-2, RBI, SF; Kyle Graves 1-2.

Game 2: Free State 10, Dodge City 0, 5 innings

DC 000 00 — 0 1 2

FS 430 21 — 10 10 4

W – Tyler Vigna L – Sowers

Highlights for Free State: Tyler Vigna 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K; Brady Kern 3-3, 3 runs, RBI, HR, 2B; Grant Gregory 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Maddox Burkitt 2-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI, walk; Mason Lester 1-for 2, run, RBI, walk; Calvin Urish 2-3, 2 RBI; Jake Patchen 0-2 run, Ryan Weishaar 0-0, walk, run.

Free State softball falls in title game

The Free State High softball team reached a familiar spot in Wednesday’s regional title game with an 11-1, five-inning, run-rule victory over Liberal at Washburn Rural High on Wednesday afternoon.

Unfortunately for the ninth-seeded Firebirds, their reward was a matchup with the top-seeded host team that ended 8-0 in favor of the Junior Blues.

The 1-1 day dropped the Firebirds’ overall record to 11-11 on the season and snapped a streak of three consecutive trips to the Class 6A state tournament.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Infielder Brady Kern runs back to the dugout after scoring. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Shortstop Brady Kern throws the ball to first base. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Free State players hold up the regional title trophy toward the stands. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Pitcher Tyler Vigna fires a pitch toward home plate. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Outfielder Jake Patchen eyes the pitcher while leading off of first base. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World photo

Outfielder Michael Lickert (10) celebrates from the dugout. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

Third baseman Grant Gregory runs to third base. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

First baseman Harrison Juhl catches a toss from pitcher Tyler Vigna. Free State defeated Dodge City 10-0 at the regional title game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

photo by: Emma Pravecek/Journal-World Photo

Third baseman Grant Gregory fields a groudn ball during Free State’s 10-0 regional title game win over Dodge City on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at FSHS.