photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright celebrates with senior Charlie Peters after scoring a run against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Following its first loss in Sunflower League play on Monday night, Free State baseball (13-2) quickly regained its offensive rhythm and held on for a 6-1 win over St. James Academy to begin the River City Baseball Festival on Thursday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Firebirds got a quality start from senior pitcher Cayman Cook, who relied on help from his defense to throw seven innings of one-run baseball. Cook allowed five hits and struck out four batters while not allowing any free passes.

“He attacked the zone, had multiple pitches that were working,” head coach Mike Hill said. “I thought he got some weak contact early and we played defense behind him.”

Hill said that it was important for Cook to go as long into the game as he could, and added that the complete game was important for his confidence moving forward.

“(I’m) really happy for him,” he said. “He’s a very, very hard worker. It’s important to him, and when that’s the case, you like to see kids like that have success.”

Added Cook: “I just got to keep doing what I did today, be more consistent. This is definitely the best I’ve done all season so I just need to be more consistent in the future.”

Not only did Cook limit the St. James Academy offense, but he did it in an efficient manner, throwing 87 total pitches, which is what Hill says allowed for Cook to stay in the game when the seventh inning came around.

Free State had a strong start on both sides as Cook retired the side in order in the top of the first, while the offense scored three runs in the home half of the frame. Ryker Mahnke hit a single to start the inning, and Cole Wright followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. An RBI single by Ben Graves and a sacrifice fly by Finn Moore scored the first two runs, while Owen Lester drove in Graves with another RBI single before the inning ended.

“Baseball is a lot easier when you’re playing with a lead, and to get three in the first, I thought was important,” Hill said. “It allowed Cayman to settle in even though he had a good top of the first.”

In the second inning, Cook retired the side in order once again, finishing with a strikeout, while the Firebird offense struggled to build on its first-inning success and didn’t get anyone on base.

The Thunder began the third inning with a single for its first baserunner before Cook minimized the damage with a double play and a strikeout.

The Firebirds capitalized on offense and added to their lead with a two-RBI double by catcher Andrew Zimmerschied to score Graves and Moore and make it 5-0 before a groundout and a strikeout ended the inning.

Cook continued his efficient showcase on the mound by retiring the side in the top of the fourth, finishing the inning with a pair of groundouts. Boston Baker began the bottom of the fourth with a single for Free State before a walk put Charlie Peters on base. After a lineout and a walk to load the bases, Graves scored Baker with a sacrifice fly for the lone run of the inning.

St. James Academy began the fifth inning in identical fashion to the third with a single, before Free State recorded a fielder’s choice for the first out. Cook relied on his defense, inducing two more fielder’s choices to leave the Thunder scoreless.

Moore led off the bottom of the fifth with a single but was stranded at second after a groundout and a pair of strikeouts. The Firebirds kept the Thunder scoreless in the top of the sixth, retiring the side with a groundout, strikeout, and flyout.

After a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning, Free State needed three outs to finish the win. The inning started with a hit and an error that ultimately turned into a run thanks to an RBI single by Brogan Jaworski.

Following a mound visit, Cook induced two lineouts and a strikeout to finish off the complete game and secure the win.

Cook said the message during the mound visit was “You got this, just breathe, calm down.”

Free State will continue the River City Baseball Festival on Friday afternoon, hosting Oklahoma’s Edmond-Deer Creek at 3:45 p.m.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence Free State senior Cole Wright catches a fly ball against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence Free State junior Ben Graves tags a runner against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Owen Lester shares a laugh with sophomore Ryker Mahnke against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cayman Cook fires in a pitch against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Finn Moore fields a ground ball against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Charlie Peters fields a ground ball against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Finn Moore fields a chopping ground ball against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright catches a fly ball against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cayman Cook catches a pop fly against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Free State sophomore Owen Lester connects for an RBI against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.

photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright celebrates with senior Charlie Peters after scoring a run against St. James Academy at Hoglund Ballpark Thursday, April 24, 2025.