Clutch Colter: Junior shortstop hits walk-off single in Free State’s 2-1 win

photo by: Carter Gaskins

Free State junior shortstop Colter Maldonado (7) hits a pitch during a game against Olathe South Saturday, April 6, 2019, at FSHS. The Firebirds won in walk-off fashion for their seventh win in a row.

As soon as Free State junior Colter Maldonado touched first base, he turned to watch senior Mitchell Clark cross home plate.

Maldonado clapped his hands emphatically above his head, and his FSHS teammates quickly swarmed him in celebration. Maldonado had put the finishing touches on a classic high school baseball game between Sunflower League foes.

His walk-off single gave Free State a 2-1 win over Olathe South Saturday afternoon at FSHS.

“It was a good feeling, but it was a team effort,” Maldonado said. “It is never just one player. I just didn’t want to let my teammates down.”

But it was just the latest example of why Free State’s baseball team has won seven games in a row after starting the year off 0-2.

The Firebirds (7-2, 5-0 Sunflower League) have shown the ability to make adjustments through the early part of the season. They have persevered through offensive struggles, recording timely hits to keep the streak alive. Look no further than Maldonado’s showing on Saturday as proof of that.

With the game tied at 1-1, Maldonado had a chance to put the game away in the bottom of the fifth. Instead, the switch-hitting shortstop struck out on four pitches with a pair of runners on. Two batters later, Jack Kallenberger struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning and spoil Free State’s biggest threat of the afternoon.

“(Colter) did not have a good at-bat,” FSHS head coach Mike Hill said. “He was anxious, that’s understandable. He came back with a different approach and he got the pitch he liked. That’s a testament to him and indicative of the adjustments you hope the kids make.”

Free State managed just four hits through the first six innings. Kallenberger’s solo shot in the fourth was the only thing the Firebirds had to show for on the offensive end before their late-game theatrics.

Still, FSHS appeared poised as it entered the last half inning. Clark started things off with an infield single. Senior Creighton Cordova then advanced Clark to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

Clark started running when the Olathe South (5-4, 2-3) pitcher hurled a fastball to Maldonado, who proceeded to rip the heater to left.

“We compete in every at-bat, the energy is always good,” Maldonado said. “I think that’s the key is that we have a lot of energy. We don’t let the negative energy get into us, we keep each other up and go hard every inning.”

The timely knocks were enough to support another pitching gem by Free State. Junior Camden Karlin spun six innings of one-run ball in the win. Karlin gave up eight hits to the Falcons, finishing with three strikeouts. Michael Uhler surrendered one hit in his lone inning of relief.

It marks the seventh consecutive game that the Firebirds have given up one run or fewer. In fact, Free State has allowed just five total runs during its seven-game win streak.

“As long as we score two or three runs, I think we have a chance every game,” Karlin said. “I left the ball up, but I worked my way out of jams. It probably could have gone better, but I’ll take the result.”

With a stellar pitching unit, Free State needs timely hits like Saturday to have a chance to keep on winning. Yet, if the Firebirds get hot offensively as well, there is no telling what this team could accomplish this spring.

“For us, it is matter if we are going to play closer to our floor or our ceiling offensively,” Hill said. “Right now, we are bouncing around a little bit but not close to the ceiling. If we can get there, we have a chance to be really, really good.”

Free State plays host to Gardner-Edgerton at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Free State 2, Olathe South 1

OS 000 010 0 — 1 9 1

FS 000 100 1 — 2 6 0

FS highlights: Jake Baker 1-for-2, double; Jack Kallenberger 1-for-3, home run; Colter Maldonado 1-for-3, RBI.

COMMENTS

Welcome to the new LJWorld.com. Our old commenting system has been replaced with Facebook Comments. There is no longer a separate username and password login step. If you are already signed into Facebook within your browser, you will be able to comment. If you do not have a Facebook account and do not wish to create one, you will not be able to comment on stories.