In the heat of a scoreless Class 6A regional championship game Thursday evening, Free State High’s softball players proved it’s a bad idea to anger them. The Firebirds were not at all pleased when the bottom of the fifth inning concluded on their home field with a double play on a would-be ...

Once junior Colter Maldonado reached first base safely, Free State’s baseball team rushed the field. A brief dogpile took place just beyond first base, as Free State finished off a crucial sweep Thursday night with a 10-0 run-rule victory over Wichita West in the regional championship game. ...

Nobody wants to kick off the postseason by facing the defending champions. After a 3-17 campaign, though, the Lawrence High softball team knew it was going to get a tough test in the regional opener. At the very least, the Lions will be all-too familiar with their first-round opponent when ...

It is a week that Free State senior Jake Baker will never forget. Six years ago, Baker got the opportunity to play at the Field of Dreams Ballpark in Cooperstown, New York. He played in multiple games during an under-12 youth tournament, and even hit a grand slam in one at-bat. Baker also won ...

Free State’s girls soccer team will live to fight another day. In the play-in game Monday night, FSHS cruised to a 10-0 victory over Wichita Southeast to earn a trip to top-seeded Washburn Rural. The Firebirds (3-12-2) scored all 10 goals in the first half in their lopsided postseason ...

Free State’s entire boys golf team punched its ticket to the 6A state tournament Monday afternoon at the Wamego Country Club. The Firebirds shot a 324 as a team, claiming a runner-up finish at their regional meet. Washburn Rural, the event winner, finished with a 305. Lawrence High finished ...

Despite dominating during Free State’s postseason run to a Class 6A state title a season ago, there was still something missing from Free State sophomore Tatum Clopton’s high school softball career. Specifically, regular season wins. One year after shoulder issues limited Free State’s ...

OLATHE — Free State senior Sawyer Nickel couldn't help but feel frustration as he found himself in a 3-0 deficit in what he knew was going to be his last high school tennis match. But instead of letting his anger undermine his performance, Nickel found a way to relax and have fun. Nickel ...

A balanced effort led the Lawrence High girls track and field team to a Sunflower League title Friday night at the Shawnee Mission South District Stadium. The Lions, who are the defending class 6A state champions, won three different relay races along with three individual events to score 152 ...

On the surface, there wasn’t a lot on the line in the latest installment of the City Showdown. That didn’t seem to matter when Free State and Lawrence High took the field Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark, however. FSHS struck first with three runs in the opening frame, but had to stave off ...

Bishop Seabury junior Grayson Rader can’t help but think about his first state tournament. Two years ago, Rader qualified as part of a doubles team along with a senior at the time. The duo went 1-2 at the Class 3-2-1A boys tennis state tournament before exiting, but it marked the first time ...

Bragging rights will be the only thing on the line Friday night. Well, that and perceived momentum heading into the postseason. With regional assignments released and a Sunflower League title decided, there isn’t as much at stake for the city baseball teams in the regular-season finale. Yet ...

The postseason is right around the corner for area baseball and softball teams. Regional brackets were released Wednesday morning, as postseason action will begin next week. Multiple area teams will be vying for a state berth, including a pair of city baseball teams that earned the opportunity ...

The final City Showdown of the regular season in the 2018-19 school year was pushed back one day. Free State and Lawrence High were scheduled to play at 6 p.m. Thursday for the regular-season finale, but is now slated for 6 p.m. Friday at Hoglund Ballpark. Bragging rights will be the only ...

After the final leg of the Sunflower League Championship, Free State’s boys golf team secured a third-place finish. FSHS placed fourth at the Olathe North Invitational Monday afternoon, shooting a 319 team score at the Falcon Ridge Golf Course. Shawnee Mission East (291), Olathe East (297) ...

Free State senior pitcher Morgan Leslie doesn’t cry much, but she came close to showing emotion when she noticed senior catcher Emma Stanwix tearing up just before the national anthem. “I was like, ‘girl you are going to send me over before we even start,’” Leslie said. Instead, ...

Ethan Bradford can still picture how nervous he was when he stepped on the mound. Bradford, who has been a lifelong fan of Nebraska because his family is from there, has always dreamed of pitching for the Cornhuskers at the collegiate level. So when Bradford got the opportunity to pitch in a ...

For the second consecutive season, the Veritas baseball team will come home with a state title. VHS cruised to a 14-4 victory over Wichita Home School Saturday afternoon in St. Mary’s during the championship game of the KCAA state tournament. It is the third such title for the Eagles in ...