photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State catcher Carter Laubach tags out a Raymore-Peculiar runner at home plate during the Firebirds' game on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ferris Dinkel celebrates on second base during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Charlie Griffith slides safely into third after a wild throw during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Owen Lester rounds third base during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ferris Dinkel hits a double during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Finn Moore creeps off third base during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Eli Berns (left) and sophomore Carter Laubach watch a pitcher warm up during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ferris Dinkel chats with a Raymore-Peculiar player during a breaking in the action of the Firebirds’ game against on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Owen Lester slides into home while being called safe due to an obstruction call during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ryker Mahnke looks to make contact during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State first baseman Ryan Vigna creeps into position during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher Zane Shaw strides out to deliver a pitch during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Carter Laubach starts his swing during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ferris Dinkel tosses his bat after drawing a walk during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Zane Shaw reaches to connect with a pitch during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State right fielder Nathan Young gets the ball in from the outfield during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State second baseman Finn Moore holds his throw during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Owen Lester rounds third to score during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Owen Lester looks to the Raymore-Peculiar pitcher during the Firebirds’ on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Ben Graves takes a lead off first base during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Ben Graves pulls back his bunt as a pitch passes for a ball during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State first baseman Ryan Vigna looks to throw home during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State first baseman Ryan Vigna holds on a Raymore-Peculiar runner during the Firebirds’ game on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Zane Shaw sprints out of the batter’s box during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher Zane Shaw comes set during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State catcher Carter Laubach squeezes a pitch for strike three during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Finn Moore looks to make contact during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ryker Mahnke beats a throw to first during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State shortstop Ben Graves throws over to first during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State pitcher Zane Shaw delivers a pitch during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Free State and Raymore-Peculiar baseball teams shake hands after their game on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Free State baseball team celebrates its win over Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State outfielder Ryker Mahnke catches a pop fly for the final out of the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State outfielder Ferris Dinkel (9) and shortstop Ben Graves track down a pop fly during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State second baseman Finn Moore tosses over to first for an out during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ryker Mahnke celebrates with the dugout after hitting a double in the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Eli Berns rounds third during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Eli Berns keeps an eye on the pitcher as he takes a lead off first base during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Carter Laubach returns to the dugout after receiving a courtesy runner during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ferris Dinkel takes a lead during the Firebirds’ game against Raymore-Peculiar on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.