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The Lakota West softball team saw its season come to an end Friday, June 3, afternoon, by way of a 9-6 loss to Gahanna Lincoln in the Division I state semifinal at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

After trailing 3-1 early in the game, the Firebirds took a 6-3 lead until it fell behind after Lincoln’s four-run, three-hit fifth inning, according to Cincinnati.com.

Lakota West season ends with a 21-5 overall record. The Firebirds also defeated Lakota East three times this season (no other team even beat the Thunderhawks once this spring) and won its first regional championship since 2006.

For more on the game, visit Cincinnati.com’s story “Lakota West bounced from state semis.”

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West, Lakota West sports, regional final, regional finals, softball, state semifinal, state semifinals

The Lakota West softball team will face Gahanna Lincoln today, June 3, at 12:30 p.m. in the Division I state semifinal at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

>>>LAKOTA WEST VS. LAKOTA EAST IN REGIONAL FINAL<<<

Cincinnati.com sports reporter Shannon Russell wrote a preview of the matchup for today’s Cincinnati Enquirer:

Players gathered over the Memorial Day break to decorate black T-shirts with “State bound 2011” in neon ink. Lakota West junior Jessica Burke said their mantra was “third time’s a charm,” a nod to the program’s third state tournament appearance, and first since 2006.

“We’re all so fired up and ready to go,” Burke said.

A Lincoln team (19-10) making its first state appearance since 2003 awaits the Firebirds (21-4).

The semifinalists enter today’s game with some familiarity, as Lincoln rallied for a 6-5 win over Lakota West in April of 2010.

Instead of focusing on the Golden Lions, which are paced by Ohio Dominican-bound pitcher Brandis Fishel (18-7 record, 1.33 ERA) and Miami University-bound third baseman Tiyona Marshall, Lakota West coach Keith Castner said the Firebirds have worked on what they do best. Lately, that’s been defense.

The team hasn’t surrendered a run in its last two games, including a 1-0, eight-inning shutout of Lakota East in the May 28 regional final at Mason. Pitcher Alex Caudill (15-2) struck out four and walked none in the victory.

If Lakota West can win, it will then face the winner of the Canton Hoover (27-3 overall) and Elyria (24-4 overall) this Saturday, June 4, at 4 p.m.

For more on the game, visit Cincinnati.com’s story titled “Firebirds are fired up for semifinal showdown.”

(Photo from Lakota West regional championship win against Lakota East this past Saturday, May 28)

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West, Lakota West sports, regional final, regional finals, softball, state semifinal, state semifinals

The Lakota East baseball team will face Grove City (21-10 overall) today, June 2, at 1 p.m. at Huntington Park in Columbus in the state semifinals. If Lakota East (22-7 overall) wins, it will play for the state championship on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. at Huntington Park.

The Thunderhawks won its first-ever regional championship this past Saturday, May 28, when it defeated the state’s No. 2-ranked team in Butler by the score of 7-0. Prior to the regional title game, Butler had defeated the state’s No. 1-ranked team Moeller in the regional semifinals.

>>>PHOTOS OF LAKOTA EAST’S REGIONAL FINAL WIN<<<

Meanwhile, Grove City won its regional championship game by defeating Westerville Central this past Saturday by the score of 10-3. The day before, Grove City also won in the regional semifinals by beating Lakota West 5-3.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, photo gallery, photos, regional final, regional finals, state semifinal, state semifinals

Lakota West defeated Lakota East for the third time this season on Saturday, May 28. This time, Lakota West’s 1-0 victory gave it a regional championship.

Last season, Lakota East defeated Lakota West by the score 4-1 in the regional final.

This year, the Firebirds scored the game’s first run in the eighth-inning when freshman Alyssa Hedric scored on a sacrifice fly by senior pitcher Alex Caudill, who also earned the shutout victory on the mound.

>>>LAKOTA WEST VS. LAKOTA EAST IN REGIONAL FINAL<<<

Cincinnati.com reporter Shannon Russell covered the big game:

Caudill didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after drilling the ball to right field with the bases loaded.

“I thought it was hard and deep enough for (Hedric) to score because she’s really quick,” Caudill said. “I didn’t even run all the way down to first because I turned and I was watching. I was so happy.”

Lakota East (28-3), Division I’s top-ranked team, finished its season with three losses – all to Lakota West. Caudill thought the first two wins gave the Firebirds confidence heading into the third game.

Lakota West coach Keith Castner said players just believed in themselves, as they have so many times before.

“They go in there and they do the best job they can,” Castner said. “They just know that, hey, when you go out there and go between the lines, they have to get it done – and they did. I’m very proud of them.”

For more on the game, visit Cincinnati.com’s story titled “Lakota West beats East in softball regional final.”

Lakota West (21-4) will now face Gahanna Lincoln (19-10) in the state semifinals this Friday, June 3, at Akron’s Firestone Stadium at 12:30 p.m.

If the Firebirds win that game, they will play in the state final at Firestone Stadium on Saturday, June 4, at 4 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Caudill, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, regional final, regional finals, softball, state semifinal, state semifinals

The Lakota East baseball team advanced to the state semifinals after defeating Butler by the score of 7-0 in the regional championship at University of Cincinnati’s Marge Schott Stadium this Saturday, May 28.

The Thunderhawks will face Grove City (21-10) this Thursday, June 2, at 1 p.m. at Huntington Park in Columbus. Grove City defeated Westerville Central this Saturday by the score of 10-3. On Friday, Grove City beat Lakota West in the regional semifinals by the score of 5-3.

>>>PHOTOS OF LAKOTA EAST’S REGIONAL FINAL WIN<<<

If Lakota East wins in the state semifinal, it will play for the state championship on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. at Huntington Park.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, photo gallery, photos, regional final, regional finals, state semifinal, state semifinals

The Lakota East baseball and softball teams both won their regional semifinal matches on Friday, May 27, by one run. The baseball team defeated Northmont by the score of 1-0, while the softball team defeated Wayne by the score of 3-2.

The Lakota East baseball team won in the 12th inning after a ground ball by senior Zak Kloenne found the outfield and scored senior Craig Thomson, who had doubled off the left field fence earlier in the inning. The win advances the Thunderhawks to their second Division I regional final in school history.

Lakota East (22-7 overall) will now face Butler (27-3 overall) at noon today, May 28, at University of Cincinnati’s Marge Schott Stadium. The Thunderhawks head coach Ray Hamilton had planned to start UC commit senior pitcher Evan Hills this afternoon, but may after to find another starter after Hills threw five scoreless innings of relief on Friday.

Hills (photo from an earlier game this season) combined with starter junior Mike Conrad to throw 12 shutout innings in the win, struck out 12 and to hold Northmont hitters to four hits in 37 at-bats. Conrad and Hills had been the Thunderhawks’ most-used pitchers all season long.

“All I know is we’re playing in the region finals and I don’t care who we’re throwing,” Lakota East coach Ray Hamilton told Cincinnati.com. “I’m not concerned. This team comes to play every day.”

Meanwhile, the Lakota East softball team also had a dramatic win on Friday. After giving up a 2-0 lead, the Thunderhawks found themselves tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. That was when senior catcher Kelly Hardison, who holds the single season record for home runs in the Greater Miami Conference, hit her ninth homer of season.

“It felt good right when I hit it,” Hardison told Cincinnati.com of her walk-off home run.”

Lakota East senior pitcher Sara Pearson improved her record to 23-2 and struck out nine batters in the win.

Lakota East (28-2) will play Lakota West (20-4 overall) in the regional final today, May 28, at 5 p.m. at Mason High School. The Firefirds are the only team that has been able to defeat Lakota East all season. Lakota West defeated the Thunderhawks by the score of 2-0 in late March and by the score of 2-0 in early May.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, Craig Thomson, Evan Hills, Kelly Hardison, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Mike Conrad, Ray Hamilton, regional final, regional semifinal, regional semifinals, Sara Pearson, softball, Zak Kloenne

The Lakota East regional semifinal softball game against Wayne today, May 26, has been moved from 5 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The hope is to accommodate any possible weather delays, according to Dan Hilen, Lakota East sports information director.

Lakota East (27-2) is currently ranked No. 1 in the state of Ohio. If the Thunderhawks defeat Wayne (16-10), they will face rival Lakota West (20-4) in the regional final Saturday, May 28, at noon.

Lakota West is the only team that has been able to defeat Lakota East all season. Lakota West defeated the Thunderhawks by the score of 2-0 in late March and by the score of 2-0 in early May.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, regional final, regional finals, regional semifinal, regional semifinals, softball

Lakota West senior pitcher Alex Caudill allowed three hits and one walk while shutting out Glen Este by the score of 2-0 in the regional semifinal on Wednesday, May 25.

Earlier in the season, Glen Este blew out the Firebirds in five innings by the score of 11-0. That game, however, was played without Caudill, who will continue her pitching career at Northern Kentucky University. At the time, Caudill was out after suffering a thigh injury.

Glen Este also did not use its ace in the regular season game. Senior Kelley Benhase, who will also attend NKU, came into Wednesday’s game with an 18-2 record, 240 strikeouts in 133.1 innings and a 0.47 earned run average.

Cincinnati.com reporter Chris DeLotell covered the game:

“I was worried about that (match-up),” Caudill said. “I knew whoever scored one run was probably going to win the game.”

West manufactured the winning run in the third inning. Alyssa Hedric led off with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball, and moved to third on a one-out single by Bekah Werth. Caudill then drove a fly ball deep enough into right field that Hedric was able to score.

West coach Keith Castner credited the early lead with helping his players relax.

“It makes you feel good,” Castner said. “At the same time, it helps the girls to know they need to up their game a little bit more also.” (more…)

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Caudill, Alyssa Hedric, Bekah Werth, Keith Castner, Kelley Benhase, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, NKU, Northern Kentucky University, regional final, regional finals, regional semifinal, regional semifinals, softball

Lakota high school varsity athletes will be competing in various postseason contests this week.

Lakota East will have two singles tennis players, junior Zack Mueck (photo) and senior Freddy Abunku, competing in the state tournament at Hillard Davidson High School May 27-28.

Lakota West and Lakota East are also still alive in the baseball and softball postseason tournaments.

Here is a quick look at the weekly postseason schedule:

Wednesday, May 25

Lakota East and Lakota West – Track – qualifiers from the district meet at Winton Woods will compete in the regional meet at Welcome Stadium (University of Dayton) at 4 p.m.
Lakota West – Softball – vs. Glen Este in regional semifinal at Mason High School at 5 p.m. (more…)

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: baseball, boys' tennis, Freddy Abunku, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, OHSAA boys' state tennis tournament, postseason, regional final, regional finals, regional meet, regional semifinal, regionals, softball, state tournament, tennis, track, Zach Mueck

With eight seconds left in the game, Reynoldsburg got what Lakota East head coach Nikki Drew called an “ok look” that “was definitely challenged.” The shot, which would have tied the score, just missed and secured a 46-44 win for the Thunderhawks in the regional semifinals.

“As a coach you prepare your demeanor for if that falls, thank goodness it didn’t,” Drew said.

“Yes, sure, I am always nervous.”

Reynoldsburg, which entered the game ranked No. 5 in the final Division I Associated Press state poll, jumped out to 19-6 lead to begin the game. Lakota East answered with a 21-0 run that propelled the team to a three-point halftime lead, according to Cincinnati.com.

Going up against a taller team, Drew was concerned about the rebounding battle. However, the Thunderhawks impressed their coach by outrebounding Reynoldsburg 43-29.

“I asked them not to give them a second shot all game and it seemed like they were close to holding their promise,” Drew said. “It was our best rebounding effort of the year. My girls played their hearts out and are so coachable. I am lucky.”

Juniors Whitney Wyckoff (12 points, eight rebounds), Molly Blomer (10 points, nine rebounds) and Alyssa Grevenkamp (six points, seven rebounds) led Lakota East.

The Thunderhawks will now face Pickerington North this Friday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Otterbein University. Pickerington North defeated Northland 58-50 Tuesday. Senior Kavunaa Edwards, who has signed to play at Villanova, led Pickerington North with 21 points and 16 rebounds in the win, according to ColumbusLocalNews.com.

(Photo taken during the Turpin playoff game)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alyssa Grevenkamp, basketball, girls' basketball, Kavunaa Edwards, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Molly Blomer, Pickerington North, playoffs, postseason, regional final, regional semifinal, Reynoldsburg, state tournament, Whitney Wyckoff