photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State's Wesley Cupps (10) celebrates during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Free State baseball’s entire lineup was active in the batter’s box in a 12-1 five-inning win over the Topeka Trojans on Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark in the first round of the state baseball tournament.

The Firebirds manufactured runs with hits in the gaps and aggressive baserunning. In a game shortened by the run rule, FSHS recorded nine hits and six walks. Only one Firebird recorded more than one hit, with each batter contributing to the offense, while on the other side, the Trojan pitching trio recorded only three strikeouts in the game.

“We had a lot better timely hitting today — just stringing together good at-bats,” first baseman Wesley Cupps said. “(For Friday), we have to keep swinging early in the count and just fight off pitches.”

Free State took advantage of Topeka’s errors to gain an early lead. Center fielder Ryker Mahnke reached second base on an error in the first at-bat, and an error on a fielder’s choice secured the first run of the game in the top of the first.

Tyler Jeffries started on the mound for the Firebirds and finished with two hits allowed against six strikeouts. Jeffries did not allow an earned run in the contest.

“(Jeffries) has been good all year long,” Free State coach Mike Hill said. “He did what good pitchers do when you get up — throw strikes. There’s something to being able to pitch when ahead and not beat yourself with freebies.”

In the second inning, the Firebirds scored their second run when Mahnke hit a hard ground ball out of reach of the diving shortstop that drove in left fielder Cole Wright. The Free State defense retired the side in the second, but the offense managed one hit in the third, which was the team’s only scoreless inning. Jeffries threw two more strikeouts in the bottom of the third as the defense retired the side again.

Cupps started the fourth with a single, and Wright brought him home on a triple. An error on the Trojans brought Wright in to score the team’s fourth run. Mahnke walked, which set up second baseman Ben Graves’ RBI single. Third baseman Mason Lester hit his own RBI single on a line drive to right field.

Topeka went to bat in the fourth down 6-0 and managed its lone run of the game on an error with two outs. Graves caught the infield pop fly for the final out, and the Trojans couldn’t reach home again in the game.

The Firebirds held a commanding lead entering the fifth, but the team iced the game with another six runs to bring the team to its 12 total. Jeffries and right fielder Finn Moore singled, and the Firebirds added to their advantage with three straight walks. Lester recorded his second hit, a triple, which gave the Firebirds a double-digit lead. Lester reached home on an error for the 12th run of the game.

Free State needed three outs to secure the win, and the defense provided just that. Two groundouts and a fly out were the final outs required to complete the run-rule victory. Now, the team has turned its attention to Friday.

“It’s on to the next,” Cupps said. “Obviously, it’s nice, but we have to be ready for tomorrow.”

The Firebirds will take on eighth-seeded Olathe South on Friday at 11 a.m. at Hoglund Park, with the winner advancing to the state championship game and the loser falling to the third-place game. The Falcons will bring momentum to the game after scoring three runs in the seventh inning to beat Olathe West, which entered the tournament with only one loss. Hill said that the team needs to attack for Free State to keep its momentum rolling.

Kyle Graves, who didn’t pitch during the regional tournament, will start on the mound for the Firebirds, and the team will look to keep its offensive success going on Friday.

Line score

Free State 110 46 – 12 9 1

Topeka 000 10 – 1 2 4

W — Jeffries; L — Plankinton.

Highlights for FSHS: Lester 2-3, 4 RBI; Jeffries 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB 6 K

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State second baseman Ben Graves catches a pop fly during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State shortstop Kyle Graves makes a play to first base during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State shortstop Kyle Graves runs to first base during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State coach Mike Hill talks to his team during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Cole Wright (1) celebrates with the dugout during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher Tyler Jeffries is jubilant during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher Tyler Jeffries (left) fist bumps teammate Jackson Lickert (right) during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher Tyler Jeffries throws the ball during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher Tyler Jeffries is jubilant during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Ryker Mahnke runs to third during the 6A State Championships at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, May 23, 2024.