The Free State baseball team (6-0) opened Sunflower League play on Tuesday night by defeating defending 6A state champion Olathe South (3-2), 16-6 in five innings.

“I wasn’t too happy after the top of the first, but after that I thought the kids were fantastic,” head coach Mike Hill said. “(We) maintained composure, I thought putting up three in the bottom half (of the first) was really important, and I thought the kids did a terrific job from there on.”

Pitcher Blaine Larkin got the start, giving up five runs and two hits while walking three batters. Junior Nathan Young pitched five innings in relief and earned the win, striking out four batters while allowing four hits and one run.

“The great thing about having a deep staff is you’ve got options,” Hill said. “Nathan came in and he attacked the zone. I thought he did a terrific job, he was keeping them off balance, getting some soft contact in addition to strikeouts.”

Offensively, Free State was paced by second baseman Ben Graves, who finished the night 2-for-3 at the plate while walking twice and driving in six runs.

“I think I was just kind of more relaxed today,” Graves said. “I think in past games I kind of just put more pressure on myself, trying to step up in big situations.”

Larkin faced danger early on, allowing hits to the first two Falcon hitters he faced. After a passed ball, Olathe South had runners on second and third with zero outs. Another passed ball allowed the first run of the game for the Falcons. Larkin walked two more batters, giving up another run in the process, before he was replaced by Young.

The Falcons added another run in the first on an additional passed ball before Young recorded the first out of the game on a groundout. Young ultimately ended the inning with a strikeout, but not until after Olathe South extended its lead to five after a two-RBI single.

Free State cut into the deficit in its first time at the plate. Right fielder Cole Wright lined a single before he was eventually brought in on an RBI single by catcher Andrew Zimmerschied. The Firebirds added two more runs in the inning, as Graves scored on a fielder’s choice and third baseman Finn Moore scored on a sacrifice fly.

“I think a big thing about this team (is) we weren’t really worried at all because we know we’re capable of scoring,” Graves said. “The mindset was keep the line going, and we did that.”

After a scoreless top of the second, the Firebirds’ offense exploded for six runs to take the lead for good. Following a pair of walks, Graves tied the game with a double, followed by an infield single by Moore. One batter later, Zimmerschied drove in his second run of the game, scoring Graves from third. Moore came around to score on a hit by designated hitter Boston Baker, who lined a double down the left field line, moving courtesy runner Hugh Kneidel to third. A passed ball scored Kneidel, and shortstop Charlie Peters brought in Baker to end the scoring.

“The hallmark of any good team is the ability to shut it down with two outs when you’re on defense and score when you’re on offense, which we put up a six-spot against a good baseball team,” Hill said.

Each team went scoreless in the third inning. Wright continued his offensive success with a single and recorded a stolen base but remained stranded at second. Olathe South scraped one run across in the top of the fourth with a bases-loaded walk, cutting the Free State advantage to 9-6.

The Firebirds added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six more runs. Baker worked a walk and advanced to second on a single by first baseman Wesley Cupps. With two outs, Baker scored on a passed ball, and Cupps scored on a single by Ryker Mahnke. Free State loaded the bases after Wright was hit by a pitch, before Graves cleared them with a double to extend the lead to eight. Graves scored the final run of the inning two batters later on a Zimmerschied double.

After the game, Hill said he told his team that he was most pleased with the offensive effort in the fourth inning to score all six runs with two outs.

Needing just one run to end the game via run rule in the fifth inning, Free State did so by way of a bases-loaded walk from Graves to score Cupps.

The Firebirds will hit the road for the first time this season on Thursday, taking on Shawnee Mission East. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.