After piling on four insurance runs in the fifth, Wichita Heights handed Free State baseball its second loss of the season 5-1 on Friday in Lawrence.

Junior Cayman Cook received the starting nod for the Firebirds (12-2), and allowed an earned run on three hits and two strikeouts as the Falcons claimed a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Even with 10 total hits, FSHS struggled to capitalize on its baserunners throughout the afternoon.

FSHS tied things up in the third on a fielder’s choice from senior Kyle Graves (3-4) that brought home the Firebirds’ lone run of the day. However, Heights tallied four of its nine total hits in the fifth against senior reliever Tyler Jeffries to place the Firebirds in a four-run hole.

Jeffries, after giving up the game-winning runs in the fifth, threw two scoreless innings with six hits and six strikeouts to match on his final box score. The Firebirds stranded three on base in the sixth and fell victim to a crushing double play in the seventh.

The Firebirds host Shawnee-Mill Valley on Monday. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.

Box score:

W-Heights 010 040 0 – 5 9 0

Free State 001 000 0 – 1 10 1

W – Maldonado; L – Jeffries.

Highlights for Free State: Cook 2.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 K; Jeffries 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; K. Graves 3-4, RBI; Mahnke 2-3, R.

LHS squeezes past Gardner Edgerton

On Thursday, a costly ball four pushed the Lawrence High baseball team over Gardner Edgerton 3-2 at home. After LHS loaded the bases on two hits and a hit-by-pitch in the 11th inning, Blazers senior Preston Graber walked LHS senior Kyan Guss to allow the walk-off score.

The Lions (9-4) opened the contest by scoring two runs in the first, and then the Blazers knotted the score at two in the third and maintained the deadlock into extras.

With the start, senior arm Brooks Jones pitched five innings of two-hit, two-run ball with six walks and four strikeouts. Relieving his fellow senior, Guss went six innings on the hill with no runs allowed on two hits and a single strikeout.

LHS ended the game with nine total hits with seniors Connor Nowak and Austin Crawford each finishing 2-for-5 at the plate.

Box score

Gardner Edgerton 002 000 000 00 – 2 4 0

Lawrence 200 000 000 01 – 3 9 4

W – Guss; L – Graber.

Highlights for LHS: Jones 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 6 BB, 4 K; Guss 6.0 IP, 2 H, BB, K; Paden 1-5, R, 2 RBI; Crawford 2-5; Nowak 2-5; Stoll 0-3, R; Riggins 1-3, R.

Foltz snaps school javelin record

Eudora High senior Rayah Foltz set a new school record in the javelin throw (129-06), placing second individually, at the Shocker Pre-State Challenge on Thursday in Wichita.

The previous record holder was Mackenzie Mayer (2021) at 128-01.

Helm commits to CSU-Pueblo

Lawrence High senior Rai’Onna Helm announced her commitment to play soccer at Colorado State University-Pueblo next fall, sharing her decision Friday on social media.

Helm shared the following statement on her X account: “I am beyond excited to share that I have officially committed to Colorado State University-Pueblo to continue my soccer journey. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family, friends, coaches, and teammates.”

Soccer roundup

The Free State and Lawrence High girls soccer teams each lost home league matches on Thursday, as Shawnee-Mill Valley rolled over the Firebirds 5-0 and the Lions fell to Shawnee Mission South 3-1 after a scoreless first half.

LHS, which picked up its lone goal from sophomore Stella Comparato assisted by junior Elise Rathmel, was locked in a 1-1 battle throughout most of the second half but the Raiders broke the tie with two late goals to run past the Lions in regulation.

LHS travels to Olathe North next Thursday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. FSHS will travel to face Olathe East next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.