photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Megan Derby fights for the ball during a match against Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at LHS.

A defensive stand by the Lawrence High girls soccer team simply wasn’t enough against Shawnee Mission Northwest, as LHS dropped its ninth match Tuesday, a 1-0 loss on its home pitch.

Neither the Lions (1-9-0) or the Cougars (6-4-1) found the net in the first half, as senior Megan Derby and junior goalkeeper Avery Sutton thwarted several shots by SM Northwest – including a backwards kick by Derby mere inches from the goal and two late saves by Sutton.

Praising his defense, LHS coach Joe Comparato felt his back four opened up multiple chances for his attack throughout the night.

“Defense can only keep you in the game so long,” Comparato said. “We won the ball more in the midfield tonight and that gave us a lot more opportunities forward and it allowed our defenders to push up and play more offensively.”

The Cougars’ deciding goal, punched in by junior Stella Salzer, found the net past LHS freshman goalkeeper Emerson Sloop, with 20 minutes still to play in the second half – but the Lions never answered.

Just five matches remain on LHS’ schedule, as the Lions prepare for another home battle with Shawnee Mission West on Wednesday.

“I think we’re kind of turning the corner,” Comparato said. “Hopefully we get a good run through this last week.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior goalkeeper Avery Sutton watches the defense shift during a match against Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at LHS.

Expected storms shift sports schedules

Due to inclement weather expected to arrive on Thursday, Free State and Lawrence High have moved the following events, with updated start times, to Wednesday:

FSHS baseball home vs. Olathe West (5:30 p.m.)

FSHS softball at Olathe East (College Boulevard Activity Center, 5:30 p.m.)

LHS boys tennis at CBAC (9 a.m.)

LHS baseball vs. Olathe East (5:30 p.m.)

LHS girls soccer vs. Shawnee Mission West (7:30 p.m.)

Dates are subject to change by school administrators.

Baseball roundup

The Free State baseball team easily handled Shawnee Mission West 12-1 without clearing five full frames on Tuesday at home.

The Firebirds (16-3) stacked 13 total hits – with freshman Ryker Mahnke (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI), junior Andrew Zimmerschied (2-2, 2 R, RBI) and junior Wesley Cupps (1-2, R, 3 RBI) assembling three big performances at the plate – en route to the mercy-rule win.

Senior Kyle Graves stayed disciplined on the mound, allowing just three total hits and an earned run through 5.0 innings pitched with five strikeouts. FSHS hosts Olathe West on Wednesday.

In the metro, the Lawrence High baseball team rolled past Shawnee Mission North 11-1 on Tuesday. The Lions (12-7) ripped off 10 runs before the end of the second, as senior Vaughn Wells (5.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 4 K) cruised on the mound.

Seniors Johnathan Riggins (2-3), Sammy Stoll (2-4, 2 R) and Austin Crawford (1-2, 2 R) each racked up two RBI in support of the Lions’ nine-hit, nine-RBI and one-error outing.

LHS hosts Olathe East on Wednesday.

Softball roundup

Earning the 10th win of its campaign, the Free State softball team (10-5) scored decisive runs in the fourth and sixth to shut out Gardner Edgerton 2-0 on Tuesday at home.

It was a true pitcher’s battle between FSHS senior ace Elsa Carrillo (7.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 K) and Gardner Edgerton sophomore Ava Yokley (6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, BB, 4 K) on a day when both teams managed just four or fewer hits at the plate.

Seniors Aly Richardson (2-3) and Myra Hamilton (2-3) delivered the Firebirds’ two RBI hits late in the day. FSHS travels to the CBAC on Wednesday to take on Olathe East.

On the road Tuesday, the Lawrence High softball team picked up a 9-5 victory over Shawnee-Mill Valley behind a strong showing by sophomore pitcher Keira Norris.

Norris (7.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K) and the Lions (5-11) racked up 10 total hits on the scorebook. Sophomore Ava Mondi (3-4, RBI) and senior Lydia Folks (2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI) each strung together quality at-bats to complement LHS’ nine total RBIs.

LHS travels to Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday.

Free State, LHS crack top 20 at Topeka CC Invite

Three area golfers shot within the top 20 performances at the Topeka Country Club Invitational on Monday.

Free State senior Jack Randall, who tied for second at last week’s Seaman Invite, finished as the runner-up, carding a 73 – just two strokes behind Overland Park-Blue Valley’s Chance Rinkol in first place.

After winning last week’s Seaman Invite, FSHS junior Aiden Graff-Hannah returned with a 15th-place individual finish this week shooting a 79 for the Firebirds. Not far behind, Lawrence High senior Gunnar Wayenberg tied for 18th (80).

FSHS and LHS return to the links Wednesday at Tomahawk Hills Country Club. The tee-off is set for 10 a.m.

Perry softball prepping for big second half

It’s certainly been a busy first half of the season for the Perry-Lecompton softball team, which has won 11 of its last 12 dates and looks to build on that momentum as May rolls around.

The Kaws, sitting atop the Big 7 at 11-3, strung together two wins in a doubleheader at Hiawatha on Monday and now look ahead to another doubleheader test at Seneca-Nemaha Central on Thursday.

Entering its road test at Hiawatha, Perry listed four batters – senior Taylor Damme, senior Trystan Buttram, freshman Paxton Damme and freshman Macie Corcoran – above .400 and each with 20 or more hits. Corcoran currently leads the team with eight home runs in her debut season.

photo by: Contributed photo

Perry-Lecompton seniors Trystan Buttram (left), Taylor Damme (center), and freshman Macie Corcoran (right) hold up their respective game balls after a win over Hoyt-Royal Valley last week.

First pitch for Perry’s doubleheader with the Thunder is set for 4:30 p.m. in Seneca.

Owens wins steeplechase at KU relays

In the final stretch at Kansas Relays, Eudora senior Sydney Owens won the girls 2,000-meter steeplechase last Friday at Rock Chalk Park. Owens’ final time (7:19.97) trumped 15 other runners, including Lawrence High senior Emma Roman Nose (8:12.03) in 12th place.

Elsewhere, Free State sophomore Jonah Frye placed third (6:14.49) in the boys 2,000-meter steeplechase. Down the list, Eudora senior Zach Arnold finished 15th (6:37.54).

FSHS competes at the Gardner Edgerton Invite on Friday. Eudora travels to DeSoto on Friday.