Lebanon softball coach Brian Kindell says his squad hasn’t played its best softball yet this spring. That fact alone is certainly not something Southwest Ohio opponents want to hear going into the first week of May.
Lebanon (20-1, 11-0 Greater Western Ohio Conference South division) is ranked No. 3 in the Division I state softball poll. Lebanon has won 19 consecutive games since a 2-1 loss to West Aurora on March 31.
"We have been solid and consistent in all three phases of the game – pitching, defense and hitting," Kindell said.
Lebanon has been led by several players this spring, including senior pitcher Bethany Campbell, who is 17-1 with 132 strikeouts at the start of this week. She has a 0.46 ERA in 121 innings.
Offensively, Lebanon junior catcher Jerrica Krupa is hitting .567 with 34 hits, three doubles, 12 RBI and 18 stolen bases. Senior third baseman Alex Walter is hitting .426 with 26 hits, six doubles and 26 RBI.
Lebanon, a Division I regional semifinalist last season, hopes to make another deep run in the postseason this spring. Lebanon concludes the regular season with three home games this week, including Springboro today, Clayton Northmont on Tuesday and Xenia on Wednesday.
2. Hamilton upsets Lakota East: Hamilton upset host Lakota East 10-1 in a Greater Miami Conference baseball game on Wednesday. Lakota East was ranked No. 2 in the Division I state poll last week. Hamilton pitcher Jason Link had a three-hitter and struck out seven batters to lead the Big Blue, according to the Pulse Journal. Hamilton’s offense was led by Derek Lambertson (three hits), Josh Fox (three RBI), Joey Lambertson (double and RBI) and Blake Castator (double and two RBI), according to the Pulse Journal and Cincinnati Enquirer. "We needed a big win, and this was it," Lambertson told the Pulse Journal.
3. St. Xavier tennis No. 1 in state: The Cincinnati St. Xavier boys tennis team is ranked No. 1 in the season’s first Division I state coaches poll. The Bombers, who won the Coaches Classic in late April, are led by several players, including senior Ryan Bandy, who has committed to play at Notre Dame. The Bombers improved to 11-0 this season with a 5-0 win over Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy on Wednesday. St. X has won the state team title four consecutive years.
4. 7-on-7 national football tournament: A national 7-on-7 high school football tournament will be played this June in 10 cities across the country, including Cincinnati on June 12. This is the first national tournament of its kind and it’s being presented in part by USA Today. The Cincinnati-area tournament is expected to be played at Colerain and Princeton with up to 40 teams competing all day on June 12. The regional winner advances to the national championship June 26 in Williamsburg, Va.
5. Wayne to play on TV: Wayne (Huber Heights) will play Canton McKinley in the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series on Sept. 5 at Ohio Stadium at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on cable. It is the second consecutive year Columbus has hosted the Herbstreit event. Wayne is expected to be one of the top football teams in Southwest Ohio again this year. Wayne is led by junior quarterback Braxton Miller, who has several scholarship offers. McKinley is led by junior defensive end Steve Miller, who has orally committed to Ohio State.
Among the outstanding efforts this week
Chase Stevens, Harrison baseball: The senior pitcher had eight strikeouts and allowed just four hits as the Wildcats defeated Anderson 2-0, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. That was the fifth consecutive win for the Wildcats.
Jake Wagner, West Chester Lakota West baseball: The sophomore pitcher allowed just two hits as the Firebirds defeated Hamilton 9-1 in a Greater Miami Conference game, according to the Enquirer.
Anna Eggleston, Mother of Mercy softball: The sophomore pitcher had nine strikeouts in a 3-2 win over McAuley in a Girls’ Greater Cincinnati League Scarlet division game.
Looking ahead
Lakota East (Liberty Township) at Mason baseball, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday: These two Greater Miami Conference teams play in northern Cincinnati. It is the final regular season game for Lakota East, which is leading the conference going into this week. The Thunderhawks are 17-5 overall and 13-3 in the GMC.
Best of the West track and field, 4:15 p.m. Thursday: Several West Side track and field teams from Cincinnati will compete at Oak Hills High School. This is a good tune-up before the postseason starts in mid-May.
Ross (Hamilton) at Colerain (Cincinnati) softball, 4:30 p.m. Friday: A good test for both teams as the regular season draws toward an ending. Colerain is led offensively by Chelsea Brides, who is hitting .547 with six RBI and five steals. Ross pitcher Brittany Fernandez is 12-3 with 117 strikeouts. She is hitting .580 with 22 RBI.
Recruiting news
Pickerington North junior offensive lineman Alex Huettel (6-foot-4, 277) has orally committed to play at Bowling Green, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Huettel also reportedly had offers from Central Michigan, Toledo and Buffalo. … Mount Healthy junior defensive lineman Joel Heath (6-5, 240) was recently offered by Kansas, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Heath also has offers from Minnesota, North Carolina State, Western Kentucky, Ball State, Kent State, Ohio, Toledo and Bowling Green. … Western Brown senior tight end/linebacker Dane Boggs (6-3, 215) has committed to play at Wittenberg. He had 83 tackles and two fumble recoveries last season for the Broncos. … Middletown junior catcher Kyle Schwarber has orally committed to play baseball at Indiana.
Random thoughts
Former Elder basketball and baseball standout Don Ruberg died April 22, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Ruberg was part of Elder’s Class of 1947 and a former Xavier University men’s basketball coach, according to the publication. … Cincinnati St. Ursula soccer standout Elizabeth Burchenal won the High School Sportswoman of the Year in April. The award was presented by the Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky Women’s Sports Association. Burchenal has signed to play soccer at North Carolina. … Cincinnati Wyoming senior third baseman Evan Aleshire got his 100th career hit in mid-April, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. He was batting .471 after the game.
