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A total of 27 Butler County 2011 graduates are heading to college next month with scholarships provided in memory of the late Cincinnati Reds broadcaster and player Joe Nuxhall, according to Cincinnati.com.

Lakota East and West were among 14 Butler County high schools that were given $2,000. The high schools then decide whether to split the money between two student athletes or give it to one. Criteria are based on need, extracurricular activities, community service, leadership, academics and participation in athletics.

Among those who earned scholarships include Stephanie Gregory and Jameson Whetsel of Lakota East and Yasmin Battle (photo) and Ashley Jeffers from Lakota West.

Since Nuxhall began the program 22 years ago more than $630,000 has been given to student athletes. The scholarships are funded through the annual Joe Nuxhall Memorial Golf Open, which pairs amateurs with professional athletes and local celebrities.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Ashley Jeffers, J.D. Whetsel, Jameson Whetsel, Joe Nuxhall, Joe Nuxhall Memorial Golf Open, Lakota East, Lakota West, Stephanie Gregory, Yasmin Battle

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

Lakota West bounced back from a 5-0 loss to Fairfield on Monday with a 10-0 victory against Sycamore on Thursday, April 21.

The Firebirds were led by another strong performance by senior pitcher Alex Caudill, who struck out nine batters in the win. Caudill is now 6-2 on the season.

At the plate, senior Yasmin Battle went 2-for-4 and scored three runs for Lakota West. Her teammates, freshman Ashley Sharp (2-for-4, 2B), junior Jessica Burke (2-for-3) and junior Becka Werth (3-for-3) also hit the ball well.

With the win, Lakota West improves to 9-3 overall and 8-2 in the Greater Miami Conference. After the loss, Sycamore falls to 2-10 overall and 2-9 in the GMC.

Next up on the schedule for the Firebirds is road game at Colerain (4-6 overall, 4-6 in the GMC) at noon.

Softball – Fairfield takes first place - While Lakota East didn’t play on Thursday; Fairfield earned its 10th conference victory when it defeated Colerain by the score of 5-4. The win improves the Indians record to 10-1 overall and 10-1 within the GMC. Being idle, the Thunderhawks remained at 14-1 overall and 9-1 within the GMC. Both teams will play out-of-conference opponents over the weekend, but will be back facing GMC foes on Monday. This upcoming Monday, East will host Colerain, while Fairfield host Mason. Both games will be played at 4:30 p.m.

Volleyball – Lakota West def. Middletown – Lakota West improved to 7-6 overall and 5-1 within the GMC with a 25-15, 25-14, 25-13 win at Middletown on Thursday. Junior Alex Vohland led Lakota West with five service aces. Senior Rio Onuki (eight kills) and junior Brian Fintel (four kills) also put in solid performances for the Firebirds. Next on the schedule, Lakota West will host rival Lakota East (12-3 overall, 4-0 in the GMC) this Tuesday, April 26, at 7 p.m.

(WestChesterBuzz also provided a game story for Lakota East’s 4-1 win against Lakota West)

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Caudill, Alex Vohland, Ashley Sharp, baseball, Becka Werth, boys' volleyball, Brian Fintel, Jessica Burke, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Rio Onuki, softball, volleyball, Yasmin Battle

The Lakota West softball team will have a fundraiser this Saturday, Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Chili’s Bar and Grill in the Bridgewater Falls Shopping Center in Fairfield Township. The event itself is a pancake breakfast, which will be hosted and served by the Lakota West softball teams.

Tickets for the breakfast are $6 and can be purchased from any Lakota West softball player on the freshman or main campus.

In 2010, Lakota West high school varsity team finished with a 22-8 overall record and was 14-4 in the Greater Miami Conference. In 2009, the Firebirds won the GMC.

Two players, Yasmine Battle (Mississippi Valley State) and Alex Caudill (Northern Kentucky), who will both play on the 2011 varsity squad, will each sign a National Letter of Intent to play the sport in college tomorrow, Nov. 10, on National Signing Day.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Caudill, breakfast, Bridgewater Falls, Bridgewater Falls Shopping Center, college signing, fundraiser, Lakota West, National Signing Day, pancake breakfast, recruiting, softball, Yasmin Battle