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Free State’s players embrace teammate Ben Graves after he finishes up pitching a full seven innings during a state semifinal baseball game at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
WICHITA — Free State baseball’s 3-2 victory over Shawnee Mission South in the Class 6 semifinals places the Firebirds on the precipice of back-to-back state championships.
Friday’s win advances second-seeded Free State (26-4) to a title tilt matchup with Topeka-Washburn Rural. Sixth-seeded Rural (20-8) knocked off top-seeded Maize in the first semifinal contest.
The championship game matchup is slated for Saturday. First pitch set to take place 25 minutes after the conclusion of the Class 5 title game, which is set for 10 am.
Free State coach Mike Hill’s calculated decision to start Ben Graves on the mound against Shawnee Mission South paid dividends. Of the Firebirds’ top two starters — Zane Shaw and Nathan Young — only Young was available to pitch. The duo has combined for a pristine 17-1 record and microscopic ERA.
Had Hill opted instead for Young, the staff co-ace would have been pitching on three days of rest after having thrown 45 pitches in Tuesday’s 9-8 quarterfinal victory over Olathe Northwest. Shaw, meanwhile, is unavailable to pitch the remainder of the way after exceeding KSHSAA’s maximum pitch count on Tuesday.
Toeing the rubber at Wichita State Shockers’ Eck Stadium, Graves mostly cruised through the first three innings, inducing four groundouts while striking out two and stranding three runners in scoring position.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Ben Graves throws a pitch during a state semifinal baseball game at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
Free State (26-4) broke open a scoreless contest in the bottom of the third. Prior to that, Raiders’ hurler Luke McKenna looked sharp, racking up five strikeouts over the first two innings.
The Firebirds broke through via Young’s opposite-field leadoff double to right, keying a big inning. Carter Laubach’s nicely placed sacrifice bunt advanced Young to third. And with the infield playing in for a play at home, Ryker Mahnke’s chopper snuck past shortstop Mac Solis, scoring Young for a 1-0 Firebirds’ lead.
Graves then aided his own cause, lashing a run-scoring triple into the right-center field gap to hand Free State a 2-0 advantage. With two outs in the frame, Owen Lester reached on a throwing error by third baseman Cale Fossett. The costly miscue plated courtesy runner
Charlie Griffith as the Firebirds led 3-0.
The three-run cushion was short-lived as Graves surrendered a pair of doubles and a single in the top of the fourth, allowing the Raiders to slice their deficit to 3-2. With a runner on third, Young induced Kade Uniak into an inning-ending groundout to second baseman Eli Berns.
Graves dominated from there, retiring the final nine batters he faced, while also striking out the side in order in the seventh to wrap the contest. Graves needed 106 pitches to finish off the complete-game gem, striking out seven while walking one over seven frames.
At the dish, Free State mustered just three hits. Mahnke, Graves, and Young accounted for the base knocks, while Mahnke also swiped a pair of bags.
In the dugout, the victory may have been somewhat bittersweet for Hill, who was squaring off against his son Matt, Shawnee Mission South’s head coach.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Zane Shaw cheers on his teammates after Nathan Young gets a hit during a state semifinal baseball game at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Ben Graves slides into third base ahead of a throw during a state semifinal baseball game at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Finn Moore scoops up a ground ball during a state semifinal baseball game at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Ben Graves daps up teammates on his way to the dugout after closing out a half inning on the mound during a state semifinal baseball game at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
