Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports, File Photo
Free State’s Zane Shaw added another dominant outing to his resume on the mound this season, striking out 13 batters in just 16 at-bats over five innings of an 11-0 run-rule victory over Liberal during the regional semifinals on Monday. Shaw is pictured here pitching against Lawrence High during the City Showdown on May 11, a game in which Shaw delivered 17 strikeouts.
A dominant pitching performance by ace Zane Shaw, coupled with ample run support, lifted Free State to an 11-0 run-rule victory over Liberal in the regional semifinals on Monday.
The Firebirds built an early advantage as run-scoring singles off the bats of Owen Lester and Shaw put the Firebirds up 3-0 in the first inning.
Free State center fielder Ryker Mahnke led off the bottom of the second with a double to center, eventually scoring on a bases-loaded walk. Eli Berns, who had earlier reached on an infield single, came home after Finn Moore was plunked by a Kye Morris pitch, putting the Firebirds on top 5-0.
Shaw, whose fastball clocks in the mid-90s, mowed through Liberal’s order, striking out the first nine hitters he faced.
“It was the same game plan as always,” Shaw said. “Throwing strikes, getting outs, and trusting the defense.”
After knocking out Morris in the third, the Firebirds continued to do damage at the dish. Carter Laubach’s sacrifice fly out scored Ferris Dinkel for a 6-0 lead. With runners in scoring position and one out, Berns laced a single to left field, plating Mahnke and Nathan Young — swelling the Firebirds’ advantage to 8-0.
Aiding his own cause, Shaw drew a two-out bases-loaded walk as Free State led 9-0.
The Firebirds tacked on two runs in the fourth, with the first coming on Laubach’s RBI-double to deep left field. Free State then went on top 11-0 via Mahnke’s sacrifice fly, scoring Laubach.
Shaw’s bid for a perfect game was spoiled with one out in the fifth courtesy of Eathan Hernandez’s single to right field. But Shaw finished strong, punching out the next two hitters to conclude the contest.
Shaw struck out 13 of the 16 batters he faced, while throwing a staggering 52 of 66 pitches for strikes. Making the outing even more impressive, Shaw generated a high percentage of swinging strikes.
While only a small blip on the radar, Shaw said he needed to make some early adjustments after falling behind in the count against the first two hitters he faced in the top of the first inning.
“I had some trouble getting ahead in the first,” Shaw said. “The ump was squeezing me a little bit.
… “I thought I was hitting the ‘black’ on the lower part of the zone at the knees there, and he wasn’t liking it.”
The Firebirds displayed excellent plate discipline, drawing 11 walks. Mahnke was 1 of 1 with three runs scored, two walks, an RBI, and a stolen base. Berns finished 2 of 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lester, Moore, Shaw, and Laubach each notched two RBI apiece.
“As leadoff, my job is to get on base any way possible, so I need to be selective up there and wait on my pitch,” Mahnke said.
The regional final was originally set for 30 minutes after Free State’s semifinal game concluded, only for the game to be pushed to tomorrow because of inclement weather. Free State will host Topeka High at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Topeka defeated Wichita East 7-3 in the first regional semifinal played on Monday at Free State.
