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

Free State senior pitcher Nathan Young delivers during the Firebirds' game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

Free State’s Nathan Young made history on Tuesday night by tossing a no-hitter.

“Well, you’re real happy for the player, first of all,” head coach Mike Hill said. “We have great kids, and any time you see one of them achieve something special, you’re really happy.”

That feat, paired with four-run frames in the third and fifth innings, allowed Free State to take down Shawnee Mission North, 8-0.

After throwing a complete-game shutout in the team’s Sunflower League opener at Olathe South on March 31, the Barton County Community College commit Young followed that outing with eight strikeouts against the Bison, allowing just one baserunner after an error in the first inning.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “We’re a little short this year on arms, so I’m always expecting to go as far as I can, and it’s good to keep the pitch count low and keep dealing.”

Young, whose accomplishment came just two weeks after teammate Zane Shaw’s near-perfect game bid. admitted that history was not on his mind and that his focus was getting through each inning.

“I didn’t really think about it,” he said. “I was pretty quiet in the dugout. I was always just chilling, ready to go back out there.”

The first two innings had the makings of a pitchers’ duel, as Young retired the side in order in both frames, while Firebird junior Owen Lester was the only hitter to reach base on either side with a single to start the bottom of the second.

Young continued to make quick work of the Bison lineup, striking out two hitters and getting a groundout in the top of the third.

Hill said that Young had a tough time starting the game with his secondary pitches but was able to find his breaking pitch in the third inning, which kept Shawnee Mission North’s offense in check.

“He pitched,” Hill said. “There’s so much now in high school analytics about this kid throws 90 (miles per hour) this and this kid throws 90 that, kind of forgetting how to pitch. He just pitched today. He did a fantastic job.”

With two outs in the bottom of the third, the top of the Free State lineup put itself in motion, starting with a single by junior Ryker Mahnke. Mahnke stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball as senior Ben Graves walked.

Junior Finn Moore drove in both runners with a single after Graves stole second, and both Moore and Lester came home on a double by junior Ferris Dinkel.

“That’s a tough get when you’re on defense, being an out away from the inning being over,” Hill said. “I think that just kind of changed the whole dynamic of the game, so that was important.”

Young struck out two more batters to start the top of the fourth and retired the next four hitters all via groundouts to keep his no-hitter intact.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mahnke, Graves, and Moore hit consecutive singles, with the latter scoring Mahnke from second. Lester reached base on an error, scoring Graves, as Moore crossed home on a sacrifice fly by Dinkel. Senior Zane Shaw hit a groundout to drive in Lester for the fourth run of the inning.

“It definitely makes us a little more relaxed on defense when we can score crooked innings, so that’s really helpful,” Young said.

After Thursday’s win over Shawnee Mission East, Graves told the Journal-World that the top of the order was going through a slump. The first four hitters, Mahnke, Graves, Moore and Lester all seemed to break out of it with Tuesday’s win as all four recorded a hit. Mahnke led the bunch by going 3-for-4, while Moore hit 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

“It’s all cyclical in this game,” Hill said. “Good players get out of slumps quicker than the players like I was. That’s what they do.”

With one out in the top of the sixth, Moore came to the help of his pitcher by keeping a ball in the infield and firing to first for the second out, while Graves produced another defensive gem at shortstop for the third out.

“It’s awesome to be able to pitch in the windup the whole game,” Young said. “They really kept it going, and it was a momentum changer.”

Young breezed through the final three hitters, getting a flyout, strikeout, and a groundout in the seventh to finish off the feat.

The Firebirds will host Olathe North on Thursday before visiting defending 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday.

“This felt good; it was a good game,” Young said. “We know we need another one on Thursday, and yeah, we’re ready to take care of business.”

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

Free State senior infielder Ben Graves runs during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior outfielder Ryker Mahnke takes off running during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore catcher Carter Laubach swings at a pitch during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior third baseman Finn Moore (2) and junior utility player Owen Lester (8) high-five teammates in the dugout during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior outfielder Ryker Mahnke raises his arms during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior infielder Ben Graves slides in safely during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior outfielder Ferris Dinkel runs the bases during the Firebirds’ game against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.