photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

The Free State baseball team celebrates its 6A regional championship after defeating Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

As the top seed in the West region of the Class 6A state playoff bracket, it could have been easy for the Free State baseball team (24-2) to get ahead of itself and turn its attention to championship weekend.

However, during Thursday night’s regionals, the Firebirds never wavered and stayed true to the moment, taking down Derby and Wichita Heights to advance to their sixth consecutive contested state tournament.

“Every team in this state is competitive, so there’s not a team that you can look past or overlook,” senior pitcher Blaine Larkin said. “We kind of just go into every game, just playing it one game at a time, one inning at a time, one pitch at a time, and just getting it done.”

Head coach Mike Hill backed up his senior pitcher, saying “you’ve got to treat every game the same.”

“I think the kids were prepared, they felt prepared, and that goes a long way,” Hill added.

A big boost during Thursday’s wins was offensive balance, as the Firebirds scored 21 runs and collected 24 hits, getting production from nearly everyone in the batting order.

“If we can stay consistent up and down the lineup, that’s what’s necessary in order to compete next weekend,” Hill said.

Center fielder Ryker Mahnke, who went 5-8 and scored three runs across the two games in the leadoff spot, agreed with Hill that the offense will have to carry its weight next week.

“(We need to) keep our focus on the good things and positives, and really just try to swing the bats and back up our pitchers,” Mahnke said. “We know our pitches are gonna be good, so really, just get a couple runs up on the board and I know we’re going to win.”

After a good week of preparation that paid dividends during the regional tournament, the Firebirds will look to prepare just as well for the state tournament.

“We have to have a good week of practice, and we’ve got to stay locked in,” Hill said. “Our routine is ending because school is over, so they’re going to have a little more time on their hands than they probably need at this juncture, so we just got to keep them locked in.”

As for what Free State needs to do on the field, Larkin says the team needs to rely on good pitching, timely hitting, and an all-in team effort to hoist the state championship.

“It’s great to ride this momentum, we’re on a 13-game winning streak, so we have a lot of momentum going into state,” he said. “I think these boys know that there isn’t a team in the state that we can’t beat, so I think we’re ready and confident to go win a state championship.”

Game 1: Free State 10, Derby 0

The Firebirds came out of the gates swinging, with Mahnke and Cole Wright hitting singles in the team’s first two at-bats. Mistakes by Derby allowed both to score the first two runs of the game, as Mahnke scored on a wild pitch, and Wright reached home on an error.

Free State added to the lead in the second with two outs and two strikes, as Wright placed a single in between defenders to score Ryan Weishaar. The Firebirds got two runners on in the third with zero outs, but a failed bunt attempt leading to a double play and a popout ended the threat.

Weishaar began the bottom of the fourth with a single that took a hop off the second baseman, sparking a five-run inning for Free State, highlighted by Ben Graves’ RBI triple and a pair of errors by Derby that allowed the other three runs to score.

Needing just two runs to end the game via run rule, Graves worked a leadoff walk and Andrew Zimmerschied singled to set runners up at the corners. Graves scored on an infield single by Finn Moore, and after a passed ball, Hugh Kneidel (running for Zimmerschied) scored on a fielder’s choice to send the Firebirds into the regional championship.

Line score

Derby 000 000 – 0 2 1

Free State 210 502 – 10 12 0

W – Shaw; L – Hambleton.

Highlights for FSHS: Graves 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB; Mahnke 2-4, 2R; Shaw 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K.

Game 2: Free State 11, Wichita Heights 1

Wichita Heights posed the first threat from the onset after a leadoff single by Carter Smith, and he later moved from first to third on an error. Smith scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly that nearly ended the inning, as Zimmerschied dropped the throw from Mahnke in center field.

Mahnke opened the bottom of the first with a single, while Wright was hit by a pitch to put the first two runners on. Graves got the Firebirds on the scoreboard with a single to score Mahnke, which moved Wright to third, setting up an RBI groundout from Zimmerschied, pushing the Firebirds in front.

Weishaar started a two-out rally in the bottom of the second and was driven in a few pitches later by a Mahnke single to extend the lead to 3-1.

Free State opened the floodgates in the bottom of the third with five runs, highlighted by a two-RBI bunt by Finn Moore on which an errant throw allowed both Graves and Kneidel to score, and an inside-the-park home run by Wesley Cupps.

While the offense continued to build the lead, Larkin dominated the Falcons’ lineup, striking out 10 batters in the first four innings while allowing just three hits during that span.

“I thought he was really good,” Hill said. “His stuff got better as the game went on, and that’s the kind of pitcher he is. He is very competitive, and he doesn’t let an inning that wasn’t his best bother him at all.”

A second run-rule opportunity presented itself in the bottom of the fifth, which began with a single by Owen Lester and Charlie Peters reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Following the first out of the inning, Weishaar continued to produce with a single to drive in Lester.

The Falcons recorded the second out of the inning; however, back-to-back singles by Wright and Graves scored Kneidel and Weishaar, respectively, to send Free State to the state tournament.

Line score

Wichita Heights 100 00 – 1 3 3

Free State 215 03 – 11 12 1

W – Larkin; L – Boomsma.

Highlights for FSHS: Mahnke 3-4, R, RBI; Weishaar 2-3, R, RBI; Larkin 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 11 K.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Andrew Zimmerschied sprints towards the crowd in celebration with the 2025 regional boys baseball 6A championship plaque on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Andrew Zimmerschied receives the 2025 regional boys baseball 6A championship plaque on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

The Free State baseball team celebrates its 6A regional championship after defeating Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ben Graves yells as his teammates rush toward him after defeating Wichita Heights for the regional title on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ben Graves yells in excitement as his teammates rush toward him after defeating Wichita Heights for the regional title on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Ryan Weishaar hits the ball during a game against Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Owen Lester rushes to first base during a game against Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Andrew Zimmerschied dashes around first base during a game against Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Andrew Zimmerschied runs to first base during a game against Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Blaine Larkin winds up during a game against Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Blaine Larkin pitches during a game against Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright hits the ball against Wichita Heights on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright runs during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright charges around the bases during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ben Graves, right, high-fives senior teammate Ryan Weishaar during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright swings at a pitch during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Ryan Weishaar touches the base during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Ryan Weishaar swings at a pitch during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ben Graves dives into the base during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Ryker Mahnke high-fives teammates during the game against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Ryker Mahnke slides into home plate against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Cole Wright takes off against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Zane Shaw pitches against Derby on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Lawrence.