photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Sophia Rowley celebrates with her teammates after retiring the side during a doubleheader with Manhattan on Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, at LHS.

A cold windy home opener was no obstacle for the Lawrence High softball team, which swept Manhattan High 8-6 and 6-5 to begin the season perfect on Friday.

The Lions (2-0) looked to Taylor Zeckser with the start in Game 1, as the senior went on to pitch all seven innings with 10 hits, six runs, two walks and seven total strikeouts. LHS got its bats swinging early, leaping to a 5-1 lead by the end of the first.

One of three seniors on the roster, Zeckser was pleased with the power LHS’ younger and newer names were bringing behind the plate.

“I was just hoping to get a W today,” Zeckser said. “Most of my nerves were just unsureness of where everybody was playing… It was unsureness about whether they were feeling confident.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Taylor Zeckser communicates with a teammate during a doubleheader with Manhattan on Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Lydia Folks heads to the plate during a doubleheader with Manhattan on Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, at LHS.

MHS junior Isabelle Peabody managed an inside-the-park home run tying the ballgame at 5-5 in the top of the second, as the Indians kept pace with the Lions trading runs through the fifth. LHS clung to a 7-6 lead entering the sixth, as junior Lydia Folks delivered an RBI double handing the Lions enough insurance to escape with the win.

In the second contest, the Indians climbed their way to a 3-0 lead by the end of the third and held LHS silent until the sixth when three hits by junior Paige Cain (1B), sophomore Ava Mondi (2B) and sophomore Harper Dye (2B) handed the Lions a 5-3 advantage.

Dye returns to the diamond this spring after suffering a season-ending injury early into her freshman campaign.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Harper Dye tosses the ball to second during a doubleheader with Manhattan on Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, at LHS.

“It’s great to be back,” Dye said “We started back in January with workouts… We’ve been having long practices all week, like up to three hours, because we know this would be a hard team to beat and I think it really showed.”

In the top of the seventh, LHS junior Maddy Crawford committed an error and sophomore reliever Kiera Norris hit a batter to squander their lead and knot the game back at 5-5. It was Zeckser who saved the day in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single driving home sophomore Peyton Hewins from third for the win.

After the win, LHS coach Mike Byrn shared Dye’s key takeaway – “Don’t be satisfied.”

“We’ve got a ways to go yet,” Byrn said. “We need to grow. There’s more work to be done.”

LHS hosts Shawnee Mission Northwest on March 26. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Sophia Rowley delivers a pitch during a doubleheader with Manhattan on Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Harper Dye gets set for the next batter during a doubleheader with Manhattan on Friday, Mar. 22, 2024, at LHS.

Free State stays hot against Sioux Falls-Roosevelt

Free State baseball carried on with its hot start to the season, defeating Sioux Falls-Roosevelt 10-0 on Friday at home. Getting the start, junior Blaine Larkin gave up just one hit through three innings with five total strikeouts.

A single by senior Mason Lester put the Firebirds (4-0) out front in the first, with two more hits by senior Tyler Jeffries (2B) and freshman Ryker Mahnke (1B) sending FSHS up 5-0 by the end of the inning. Junior Andrew Zimmerschied joined the hit club in the bottom of the second, scoring two more runs off a double.

In the bottom of the third, Jeffries (1B) and senior Buddy Lam (FC) drove in two more runs to make it a comfortable 9-0 lead for FSHS heading into the fourth. Sophomore Ben Graves drove in the run-rule score with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.

FSHS hosts Brandon Valley (South Dakota) on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.

Free State takes gold, LHS lands in top 5 at swimming opener in Emporia

The Free State and Lawrence High girls swim and dive teams hit the water in style with two top-5 finishes at the Emporia Invite on Thursday. The Firebirds won the meet outright behind a 573-point team performance, followed by LHS in fourth (272 points) among six total schools.

FSHS captured 10 of the meet’s 12 total events, including the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relays.

Freshman Lucy Velte (200-yard IM, 100-yard freestyle), junior Jocelyn Wilson (50-yard freestyle), junior Gayla Gao (100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke), freshman Helena Mattes (100-yard breaststroke) each captured individual gold medals for the Firebirds.

On the LHS side, senior Emily Brandt placed second individually in the 1-meter dive and junior Ava Kohart placed fifth individually in the 100-yard backstroke. The Lions notched another top-5 finish placing fifth in the 200-yard medley relay.

FSHS meets Shawnee Mission East and Olathe East on March 26 at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center; LHS hosts Basehor-Linwood, De Soto and Lansing on March 26.

Hedges, Reina-Salas impress at Olathe South quad

The Free State boys tennis team returned to the court with multiple promising showings at the Olathe South quadrangular on Thursday. Senior Felipe Reina-Salas carried the torch in singles, finishing the day unscathed.

Reina-Salas opened the day with an 8-4 victory over Blue Valley’s Ken Yao, then cruisied past Shawnee Mission East’s Weston Hedrick (8-4) and Olathe South’s Logan Mindrup (8-0). Senior Jake Hedges (2-1) also impressed in singles, earning wins over Shawnee Mission East’s Jack Vaughn (8-3) and Olathe South’s Nolan Fosha (8-5).

The Firebirds’ doubles team finished just 3-6 on the day, led by Drew Harrison/Owen Thompson with a 2-1 record.

FSHS, LHS, Olathe East and Shawnee Mission Northwest return to action April 2 at Rock Chalk Park.

Free State soccer drops season opener at O-Northwest

The Free State girls soccer team opened its campaign with a 5-1 loss at Olathe Northwest on Thursday night.

Senior Elaina Zung got the Firebirds (0-1) on the scoreboard first, as FSHS held onto its lead for most of the first period. Claiming a 2-1 lead before halftime, the Ravens (1-0) never relinquished its grip scoring three more goals in the second half.

Firebirds coach Joe Waldron said his team left their first match of the season with plenty of good notes.

“We held our own for large chunks of the game and walked away with a sense of optimism, knowing that we are on the right track and knowing that we will get better when at full strength,” Waldron said.

FSHS travels to Topeka-Hayden Catholic on March 25. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.