WestChesterBuzz.com

Standing at 6-foot-3 and loaded with potential, Lakota West Gabby Blados is attracting the attention college volleyball recruiters despite being inexperienced at the sport. The junior recently decided to make a verbal commitment to Clemson University. Photo taken July 11, 2012 by Adam Kiefaber.

Two Lakota West juniors and a Lakota East senior have recently made verbal commitments to play their respected sport in college.

Lauren Heger, who is a member of the Lakota West girls’ soccer team, has verbally committed to continue her athletic career at the University of Cincinnati.

As a sophomore, Heger started in all 18 games leading the Firebirds to a 6-0-3 record in the Greater Miami Conference. In those 18 games, Heger totaled 19 goals and 3 assists. In 2011, she was named to the all-GMC first team.

Fellow Firebird Gabby Blados has made a verbal commitment to play volleyball at Clemson University.

• WestChesterBuzz.com story on Gabby Blados

Blados, who is the daughter of former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Brian Blados, is 6-foot-3 and is coming off a solid club season with the Cincy Classics. Prior to her freshman year, Blados had never played volleyball but was receiving attention from schools that represent the Big Ten, the Big East and the ACC.

At Lakota East, senior catcher Jarrett Rindfleisch decided to make a verbal commitment to play baseball at Ball State University. During the Thunderhawks’ state championship season, in the spring of 2011, Rindfleisch had a .348 batting average and a .459 on-base percentage. The spring of 2013 will be his last high school season.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ball State baseball, Cincinnati soccer, Clemson volleyball, Gabby Blados, Gabby Blados Clemson, Gabby Blados Lakota West, Gabby Blados volleyball, Gabby Blados volleyball recruiting, Jarrett Rindfleisch, Jarrett Rindfleisch Ball State, Lakota East, Lakota East baseball, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West soccer, Lakota West sports, Lakota West volleyball, Lauren Heger, Lauren Heger Cincinnati, Ohio High School sports recruiting, Ohio preps recruiting, Ohio sports recruiting, UC soccer

The Greater Miami Conference recently announced its all-conference baseball and softball teams. A total of 23 Lakota baseball and softball players were named to the conference’s first and second teams.

In baseball, Lakota East’s Ray Hamilton was named GMC Coach of the Year and Lakota East junior pitcher Mike Conrad shared the honor of GMC Baseball Athlete of the Year with Middletown’s Kyle Schwarber.

Lakota East, which won the GMC title and a state title this spring, had five players (Conrad, senior J.D. Whetsel, senior Jesse Rait, senior Evan Hills and junior Alex Corna) named to the All-GMC First Team and two (senior Mitch Geers and sophomore Jarrett Rindfleisch) named to the All-GMC Second Team.

Lakota West, which won a district title this season, had two players (senior Ryan Oltorik and junior Jake Wagner) named to the All-GMC First Team and three (senior T.J. Belieu, senior Mack Doherty, junior Zack Farmer) named to the All-GMC Second Team.

In softball, Sara Pearson, who has signed on to play at the University of Memphis, was named as the GMC Softball Athlete of the Year. Pearson struck out 264 batters in 164.2 innings and posted a 0.30 earned run average in 2011.

Lakota East, which won the GMC title and a district title in 2011, had five players (Pearson, sophomore Lea Buckenmyer, junior Ainsley Ellison, junior Alyssa Grevenkamp and senior Kelly Hardison) named to the All-GMC First Team and one (junior Kim Rollins) named to the All-GMC Second Team.

Lakota West, which won a regional title this spring, had two players (senior Alex Caudill and junior Amanda Lahti) named to the All-GMC First Team and three (senior Yasmin Battle, senior Melanie Bryan and junior Jessica Burke) named to the All-GMC Second Team.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Ainsley Ellison, Alex Caudill, Alex Corna, Alyssa Grevenkamp, Amanda Lahti, baseball, Evan Hills, Jake Wagner, Jarrett Rindfleisch, Jesse Rait, Jessica Burke, Kelly Hardison, Kim Rollins, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Lea Buckenmyer, Mack Doherty, Melanie Bryan, Mike Conrad, Mitch Geers, Ray Hamilton, Ryan Oltorik, Sara Pearson, softball, T.J. Belieu, Yasmin Battle, Zach Farmer, Zack Farmer

The Lakota East baseball team advanced to Saturday’s state championship game when it defeated Grove City Thursday, June 2, afternoon by the score of 7-2 at Huntington Park in Columbus.

The Thunderhawks received a complete game from starting pitcher junior Mike Conrad against Grove City. Conrad entered the game with 110 strikeouts in 68.2 innings and a 1.22 earned run average.

At the plate, sophomore catcher Jarrett Rindfleisch (two doubles, three runs) and senior Jesse Rait (two-run home run) led Lakota East.

Lakota East (23-7 overall) senior Evan Hills will likely get the start on Saturday against Perrysburg (26-3 overall) in the state title game. The game will begin at exactly the same time as Hills, Rait and the other 10 seniors on the baseball team were scheduled to be at Miami University’s Millet Hall for Lakota East High School’s graduation ceremony.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Rait told Cincinnati.com. “Graduation is big, but I’d much rather be here with my teammates. It’s awesome to still be playing when everyone else is done.”

Hills, who will continue his baseball career at the University of Cincinnati, comes into the title game with an 8-3 overall record and 1.52 earned run average.

Cincinnati.com sports reporter Mark Schmetzer was at today’s state semifinal game between Lakota East and Grove City. To see his entire recap, visit Cincinnati.com’s story titled “Lakota East baseball reaches state final.”

(Photo taken during Lakota East’s regional championship win May 28)

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, Evan Hills, Jarrett Rindfleisch, Jesse Rait, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Mike Conrad, state championship, state semifinal

The Lakota East and Lakota West softball teams advanced to district title games with wins on Monday, May 16. Lakota East defeated Fairborn by the score of 10-0 in five innings, while Lakota West edged Springfield by the score of 3-1.

Lakota East (24-2 overall, 15-2 in the Greater Miami Conference) received another strong performance from its senior pitcher Sara Pearson, who improved her record to 19-2 and struck out eight batters in the postseason victory. Pearson (2-for-4), junior Alyssa Grevenkamp (3-for-4, 3B), senior Kelly Hardison (2-for-2), freshman Gracie Sprockett (2B, 2 RBIs) and junior Kim Rollins (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) led the Thunderhawks at the plate.

Meanwhile, Lakota West (18-4 overall, 15-3 in the GMC) senior pitcher Alex Caudill improved her record to 12-2 on the year.

In the postseason the Thunderhawks will face Clayton Northmont in its district final game, which will be played at 1 p.m. at Fairmont High School this Saturday, May 21. This Wednesday, however, Lakota East will host Fairfield (17-3 overall, 15-2 in the GMC) in a late regular season game that will decide the 2011 GMC championship.

Lakota West is scheduled to play its district championship game against Ursuline Academy (13-6 overall, 6-3 in the Girls Greater Cincinnati League) this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Lakota East High School.

Baseball – Lakota East 7, Kings 4 – The Thunderhawks defeated Kings by the score of 7-4 on Monday in what was a late regular season matchup between the two schools. Senior J.D. Whetsel (2-for-3, 2B), sophomore Jarret Rindfleisch (2-for-4), Rait (2B, 2 RBI), junior Blake Wilder (2 runs), senior Brian Evans (2B, 2 RBIs) and senior Zak Kloenne (2 RBIs) led Lakota East at the plate. Lakota East is scheduled to face Clermont Northeastern at 5 p.m. today. On Thursday, May 19, the Thunderhawks will face GMC foe Sycamore in the district semifinals (postseason) at 5 p.m. at Harrison High School. Lakota East (18-7 overall, 13-5 in the GMC) has already played Sycamore (11-7 overall, 10-7 in the GMC) twice this month (May 6-7) and won both games (5-4 in extra innings and 10-7).

Baseball – Lakota West 4, Springboro 3 – In a late regular season matchup, the Firebirds defeated Springboro by the score of 4-3 on Monday. Junior Zack Farmer (2-for-3, 2B), senior Ryan Oltporik (2-for-3, 3B) and junior Troy Dombart (2-for-3, 3B) led Lakota West at the plate. Lakota West will face GMC rival Mason in the district semifinals this Thursday, May 19, at 5 p.m. at Oak Hills High School. Lakota West (15-10 overall, 9-9 in the GMC) has already lost to Mason (15-9 overall, 9-9 in the GMC) twice this month – by the score of 12-3 May 4 and by the score of 7-1 on May 7.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Caudill, Alyssa Grevenkamp, Blake Wilder, Brian Evans, daily sports roundup, Gracie Sprockett, J.D. Whetsel, Jarrett Rindfleisch, Kelly Hardison, Kim Rollins, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Ryan Oltporik, Sara Pearson, Troy Dombart, Zack Farmer, Zak Kloenne