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

Free State junior Ryker Mahnke celebrates with teammates after defeating Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.

Zane Shaw delivered another shutout pitching performance to move Free State into the regional championship.

The Nebraska commit struck out 13 batters, facing just 16 as the Firebirds (23-4) defeated 15th-seeded Liberal 11-0 in Monday’s semifinal. Due to inclement weather, the championship game will be played Tuesday at 1 p.m.

“Throwing strikes, getting outs, trusting the defense,” Shaw said on the keys to his performance. “I had some trouble getting ahead early, in the first, but it was fun.”

Shaw said that no matter what the score is or who the opponent is, his approach to a start never changes.

“I try going into games just with the same mindset, no matter what I’m doing,” he said. “Just try and be at my best for the team.”

Offensively, the Firebirds recorded seven hits, led by Eli Berns, who had two to lead the team. Free State also worked 11 walks and had one hit-by-pitch at the plate.

“I thought we had some good at-bats and hit the ball well,” head coach Mike Hill said. “Obviously, (in) any tournament game, playoff game, playing with the lead is important.”

The Firebirds took advantage of a pair of first-inning walks, with Ryker Mahnke scoring on a single by Owen Lester and Ben Graves scoring on a groundout. Lester came around for the third run of the inning on a single by Shaw.

“As the leadoff, my job is to get on base any way possible,” Mahnke said of starting the game with a walk. “Knowing that I need to be selective up there and wait for my pitch, so anything I can do to get on base, I’ll do.”

Mahnke started a two-out rally in the second with a double and advanced to third on a single by Berns. The bases were loaded after a walk by Graves, and Lester walked to bring in Mahnke before Berns crossed home when a pitch hit Finn Moore.

Free State’s lead grew in the third thanks to a sacrifice fly by Carter Laubach, a two-RBI single hit by Berns, and a bases-loaded walk issued to Shaw.

After striking out all nine batters the first time through the lineup, Shaw let his defense work in the fourth with a popout and groundout before his 10th strikeout retired the side.

“That’s just ridiculous,” Mahnke, Free State’s center fielder, said of Shaw’s performance. “You just sit out there in the outfield and just watch it go 1-2-3 every time, and it’s crazy out there.”

The run rule came into effect by the beginning of the fifth as the Firebirds added two more runs in the fourth inning on a double by Laubach and a sacrifice fly by Mahnke. Shaw allowed a one-out hit in the top of the fifth but struck out the other three hitters to finish the game in 4 1/2 innings.

Free State, the No. 2 seed in the 6A West bracket, will take on No. 10 Topeka/Cair Paravel (12-14) in Tuesday’s regional championship. The Trojans advanced to the championship game by scoring five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to defeat seventh-seeded Wichita East 7-3 earlier on Monday.

“They’re tough kids,” Hill said of Tuesday’s opponent. “We’ve got to come ready to play tomorrow and do the things that we’re supposed to do.”

Added Mahnke: “Just stick to the game plan and make them come to us. We just have to be mentally locked in and just let everyone get some rest real quick and come back tomorrow.”

LINE SCORE

Liberal 000 00 – 0 1 0

Free State 324 2x – 11 7 0

W – Shaw; L – Morris.

Highlights for FSHS: Mahnke 1-1, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB; Berns 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R; Shaw 5.0 IP, 1 H, 13 K.

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

Free State senior Ben Graves throws the ball to first for an out against Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Ben Graves fields a ground ball against Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Ben Graves receives signs from the dugout against Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Carter Laubach connects for a sacrifice fly against Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Zane Shaw has his hat come off while throwing a pitch against Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Eli Berns just misses being hit by a pitch against Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Zane Shaw throws a pitch against Liberal High School on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Lawrence.