photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State catcher Carter Laubach claps to his teammates after hitting a triple in a 6-3 City Showdown win over Lawrence on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence.

Free State baseball has consistently found its success based on pitching and defense. The 2026 team, which currently stands at 20-4, is no different in that regard.

However, if the Firebirds want to complete back-to-back state championships for the first time in school history, they will have to focus on the littlest of details on the offensive end.

“We have a lot of work to do offensively, just hitting with runners in scoring position,” senior Ben Graves said. “If we want to be a state championship team, we still have a lot of work to do.”

During Monday’s City Showdown, in which Free State defeated Lawrence 6-3, the Firebirds left multiple runners on base in scoring position.

In the first inning, for example, Free State had runners at the corners with one out before back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. Looking for the right pitches and improving at situational hitting will set the Firebirds apart during the remainder of the season.

“I think just swinging at fastballs,” Graves said of the adjustments the team needs to make in its approach. “We have a lot of guys that are just taking early fastballs that are hittable pitches that we should hit, and then we’re getting deep into counts and we’re seeing more off-speed … When we have runners in scoring position, having better at-bats and having more efficient at-bats to drive in runs.”

One key piece has started to emerge in the bottom of the Free State lineup. Catcher Carter Laubach has excelled both offensively and defensively this year for the Firebirds, serving as the “quarterback” of the defense as just a sophomore.

Notably, he finished Monday’s game with two triples against Lawrence’s Hudson Hardesty and is the only Firebird to hit a home run this season, which he did so on April 3 in a game at Rogers High School in Arkansas.

“I couldn’t ask for much of a better defensive catcher,” senior pitcher Zane Shaw said. “It’s so easy. He pretty much blocks everything (and) helps me out with some pitches that are close … It’s pretty easy working with him.”

Added head coach Mike Hill: “To do what he’s done behind the plate as a sophomore is pretty special… He’s a very, very good baseball player, and he’s a young kid. And, you know, he gets some more scars on him from this game, it’s going to make him even better.”

As the postseason approaches, Free State is among the most battle-tested teams in Kansas, making the smallest of margins that much more important. Despite the four losses, each of which the team has responded to with a win in its next game, the Firebirds have proven they have the ability to beat anyone in the state.

“They’re resilient,” Hill said. “They’re used to winning… They expect to win, but, you know, expecting and doing the things necessary to do it are different things.”

At this point in the season, focusing on these details in practice and showing up consistently every day is going to make the difference for a team with aspirations of adding another state championship.

“We’ve gotten way better at knowing that we have to show up ready to go,” Graves said. “If anything, I think (the loss to Olathe Northwest) is going to motivate us going forward. It’s just reminding us that we’ve got to come up ready to play every day and play to our standards, instead of playing down to other teams’ standards.”