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Zak Farmer is one of six Lakota West seniors who will continue their baseball careers in college. Photo taken at a game earlier this spring by Adam Kiefaber.

After taking a 2-0 lead after the first three innings, Lakota West gave up a combined 11 runs during the fourth and fifth innings in what turned out to be a 11-2 loss to Moeller in the district semifinals at Milford High School Thursday.

Leading the Crusaders during that stretch was the trio of junior Spencer Lacovone and seniors Ty Amann and Nick Edwards. Lacovone hit his fourth home run of the season and led the way with three runs batted in, while Amann and Edwards each drove in a pair of runs.

The loss ends the Firebirds season. Overall, the team finishes the 2012 year with an 18-12 record and a 13-5 mark within the Greater Miami Conference. Accomplishments this season include a two-game sweep against rival Lakota East, a runner-up finish in the GMC and its head coach Bill Dreisbach becoming the school district’s all-time leader in wins (currently has 283).

The team, which has 12 seniors on its roster, currently has six members of the class of 2012 who will be playing college baseball – including Malik Zuberi (Shawnee State), Zak Farmer (Walsh University), Davis Schafer (Bellarmine University), Mike Seaman (Trine University), Nick Billman (Mount St. Joseph) and Jake Wagner (Miami-Hamilton).

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Bill Dreisbach, Davis Schafer, Jake Wagner, Lakota West, Lakota West baseball, Lakota West sports, Malik Zuberi, Mike Seaman, Nick Billman, Ohio high school baseball playoffs, ohio high school sectional baseball playoffs, sectional playoffs, Zak Farmer

Lakota West safety Dawson Fletcher officially signed to play football at Indiana University Feb. 1, 2012 on National Signing Day. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Unlike Lakota East, Lakota West High School hosts numerous signing ceremonies throughout the academic calendar. So far, there have been 32 seniors at Lakota West who have signed on to continue their athletic careers in college.

At Lakota East, there have been a total of 26 seniors recognized at two different signing day events in 2012.

Here is a list of all the Lakota West students who will be playing sports in college:

• Ali Zieverink – Shawnee State (basketball)
• Adrianna McNeal – Southwestern (basketball)
• Rachel Mills – Alderson Broddus Illinois College ((basketball)
• Summer Reeves – Morgan State University (basketball)
• Shabazz Reeves – Morgan State University (basketball)
• Jordan Darland – Olivet Nazarene (football)
• Blake Bell – California (PA.) (football)
• Dawson Fletcher – Indiana University (football)
• Cole Stalker – University of Findlay (football)
• Beau Odom – Georgetown College (football)
• Kayaune Ross – Fort Scott Community College (football)
• Bubba Williams – Lindsey Wilson (football)
• Evan Hodel – Wheeling Jesuit (lacrosse)
• Zach Crabtree – Wheeling Jesuit (lacrosse)
• Ali Green – Ashland (golf)
• Kim Love – Purdue University (soccer)
• Kelly Mack – Wright State (soccer)
• Lauren Pratt – Ohio Dominican (soccer)
• Malik Zuberi – Shawnee State (baseball)
• Zak Farmer – Walsh University (baseball)
• Davis Schafer – Bellarmine University (baseball)
• Mike Seaman – Trine University (baseball)
• Nick Billman – Mount St. Joseph (baseball)
• Jake Wagner – Miami-Hamilton (baseball)
• Amanda Lahti -  Ohio Northern (softball)
• Brooke Rowley – Lake Forest College (swimming)
• Brady Holmer – NKU (cross country)
• Amanda Shelby – Mount St. Joseph (cross country)
• Nathan Haynes – Navy (cross country)
• Mel Stewart – NKU (volleyball)
• Corri Muha – Georgetown College (volleyball)
• Nick Bloch – Lake Erie College (wrestling)

WestFirebirds.com, the school’s official athletic website, posts photos and details after signing ceremonies take place.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Spring sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Ali Green, Ali Zieverink, Amanda Lahti, Amanda Shelby, Beau Odom, Blake Bell, Brady Holmer, Brooke Rowley, Bubba Williams, Cincinnati football recruiting, Cole Stalker, Corri Muha, Davis Schafer, Dawson Fletcher, Evan Hodel, Jake Wagner, Jordan Darland, Kayaune Ross, Kelly Mack, Kim Love, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Lauren Pratt, Malik Zuberi, Mel Stewart, Mike Seaman, Nathan Haynes, Nick Billman, Nick Bloch, ohio basketball recruiting, Ohio football recruiting, Ohio High School sports recruiting, Ohio preps recruiting, Ohio sports recruiting, Rachel Mills, recruiting, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves, Zach Crabtree, Zak Farmer

Lakota West scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning Wednesday, April 13, when junior Jake Wagner singled in junior Nick Billman to make the score 2-1. The Firebirds would hold on to the lead thanks in part to senior starting pitcher T.J. Belieu, who threw a complete game. Belieu improves his record to 3-0. He also has 19 strikeouts in 20 innings and an ERA of 1.40 this season.

The win improves Lakota West’s overall record to 5-4 and its record within the Greater Miami Conference to 4-3. The Firebirds will visit Oak Hills (5-3 overall, 4-3 in the GMC) this afternoon at 5 p.m.

Baseball – Lakota East 2, Middletown 0 – Earlier this week, Lakota East had two games against Middletown postponed before finally beating the Middies by the score of 2-0 on Wednesday. Senior pitcher Evan Hills earned the win, improving his record to 3-1 on the season. Senior Brian Evans went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in both runs. The win moves Lakota East into a two-way tie with Mason (7-2 overall, 5-2 in the GMC) atop the GMC standings. The Thunderhawks (6-3 overall, 5-2 in the GMC) will visit Fairfield (6-4 overall, 3-4 in the GMC) this afternoon at 5 p.m.

Softball – Lakota East 10, Sycamore 1 – The Thunderhawks won its 11th straight game on Wednesday when it defeated Sycamore by the score of 10-1. Sophomore pitcher Lea Buckenmyer improved to 3-0 this season. She also has 24 strikeouts and a 1.05 ERA in 20 innings this season. Senior Kelly Hardison homered for the fifth time this season and drove in four runs. Lakota East (12-1 overall, 7-1 in the GMC) will visit Fairfield (8-0 overall, 8-0 in the GMC) this afternoon in a battle between two of the area’s top teams.

Tennis – Centerville def. Lakota West – After winning five straight matches last week, the Lakota West boys’ tennis team has lost all three of its matches this week. The latest loss was against Centerville, which defeated the Firebirds by the score of 4-1. No. 3 singles player sophomore Nick Lang won his match for Lakota West. The Firebirds will visit rival Lakota East (7-1 overall, 6-1 in the GMC) this afternoon at 4 p.m.

Volleyball – Centerville def. Lakota West – The Elks defeated Lakota West by the score of 25-19, 25-19, 25-16 on Wednesday. Junior Alex Baker led the Firebirds with nine digs. Senior Rio Onuki had four kills and sophomore Curtis Johnson added two kills in the loss for Lakota West. The Firebirds (4-4 overall, 4-0 in the GMC) will visit Oak Hills (8-1 overall, 3-1 in the GMC) tonight at 7 p.m.

Volleyball – Lakota East def. Fairmont – Lakota East defeated Fairmont by the score of 25-16, 26-24, 25-18 on Wednesday. The win improves Lakota East’s overall record to 10-3 this season. The team is also 3-0 within the GMC. East will host Princeton tonight at 7 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Baker, baseball, boys' tennis, boys' volleyball, Brian Evans, Curtis Johnson, Evan Hills, Jake Wagner, Kelly Hardison, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Lea Buckenmyer, Nick Billman, Nick Lang, Rio Onuki, softball, T.J. Belieu, tennis, volleyball