The Lakota East (Liberty Township, Ohio) baseball team continues to be one of the top teams in the state this spring.
Lakota East (15-4, 11-2 Greater Miami Conference) is rated No. 2 in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Poll.
Lakota East defeated district rival Lakota West 18-4 on Wednesday. Lakota East senior Quinn Kist-Kline had five RBI to lead the Thunderhawks, according to the Pulse Journal. It was the Thunderhawks’ eighth win in 26 games against the district rival.
"Any time you can beat those guys, with everything they’ve done, you have to feel good about walking out of here on top," Lakota East coach Ray Hamilton told the publication.
The Thunderhawks are scheduled to play host to Sycamore at 4:30 p.m. today, though a rainy forecast could postpone the game. Lakota East defeated Sycamore 4-3 on April 22. Lakota East plays host to Hamilton on Wednesday and travels to Hamilton on Friday.
Lakota East leads the GMC in two team statistical categories, including hitting (team average of .371) and pitching (2.86 ERA). That should bode well for the Thunderhawks going into the postseason, which starts May 8 with sectional tournaments around Southwest Ohio.
Lakota East has had quite a turnaround this spring. The Thunderhawks finished 11-16 and in the bottom half of the GMC standings in 2009.
2. Gray reaches 700 wins: Mason baseball coach Ken Gray reached 700 career wins last week as Mason defeated host Middletown 16-7 on Tuesday night. Gray has been coaching Mason since 1975 and has led the school to several team accomplishments. "I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of good players and coaches over the years," Gray told the Pulse Journal. "I really didn’t think I’d be there this long, but it is the players and the relationships that keep you going." Mason has won 18 conference titles, seven district titles and earned a state runner-up finish under Gray. He is the sixth Ohio baseball coach to reach 700 wins, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
3. Coaches Classic tennis: St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) won the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association Coaches Classic on Saturday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Despite the rainy weekend in Southwest Ohio, the competition was moved indoors and the Bombers won the team title. St. Xavier senior Ryan Bandy defeated Cincinnati Country Day senior Joey Fritz 6-2, 6-1 for the No. 1 singles title, according to the publication. Lakota East was second in the team standings, followed by Sycamore.
4. St. Ursula names basketball coach: St. Ursula Academy (Cincinnati) has named Jim Leon as its new girls basketball coach. Leon has been coaching boys basketball programs since the 1980s, including schools that include Woodward, Summit Country Day, Western Hills and Clark Montessori. Next winter is the first time Leon will coach girls basketball at the varsity level. "I have a system that works," Leon said. "We are going to do everything we can to be successful moving forward." Leon was worked in Cincinnati Public Schools for 28-and-a-half years and resides in Cincinnati. "We are very excited to have Jim as the new face of the St. Ursula Academy basketball program and we are confident that his experience and passion for the game will elevate the level of Bulldog basketball in the very near future," athletic director Mike Sipes said. The Bulldogs were 5-16 overall during the 2009-10 season.
5. Florida State offers Kelly: West Chester Lakota West junior offensive lineman Ryan Kelly was offered by Florida State recently, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Kelly, one of the state’s top players in the 2011 class, also has offers from Cincinnati, Arizona, North Carolina State, Illinois, Syracuse, Boston College, Louisville and Indiana. He has received interest from Alabama and Florida this spring, too.
Among the outstanding efforts this week
Anna Eggleston, Mother of Mercy (Cincinnati) softball: The sophomore threw a perfect game in a 10-0 win over Dayton Carroll on April 19, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Eggleston had eight strikeouts, according to the publication. She improved to 6-3 with a 0.73 ERA after the game.
Jamie Ertel, McAuley (Cincinnati) softball: The freshman pitcher threw a no-hitter as McAuley defeated Alter 9-0 last week, according to the Enquirer. Ertel had 16 strikeouts; she went 3 for 5 with a double and three RBI, according to the publication.
Chandler Scott, Centerville softball: The sophomore pitcher threw her first career no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Springfield last week, according to the Dayton Daily News. "That’s the best she’s pitched this year," Centerville coach Paul Martin told the publication.
Looking ahead
Lebanon (Lebanon, Ohio) at Miamisburg (Miamisburg, Ohio) baseball, 5 p.m. Wednesday: These two Greater Western Ohio Conference South division teams are still competing for a conference title. Lebanon defeated Miamisburg 1-0 in a game on April 19, according to the Dayton Daily News. Lebanon senior pitcher Dusty Isaacs struck out 10 batters in that game, according to the publication.
Indian Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio) at Madeira (Cincinnati, Ohio) softball, 4:30 p.m. Thursday: These two Cincinnati Hills League rivals compete in a late-season showdown. Madeira’s offensive leaders include Christy Spink and Gretchen Staubach – both of whom led the league in RBI last week. Madeira pitcher Sarah Hammitt had 10 strikeouts in shutout over Deer Park last week. Indian Hill pitcher Becca Conn is one of the league’s top pitchers.
Best of the West baseball tournament, Saturday and Sunday: The annual West Side baseball tournament features eight teams from the Cincinnati area including Oak Hills, Elder, La Salle, Western Hills, Ross, Colerain, Harrison and Taylor. There are four games starting at 10 a.m. There will be three games on Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
Recruiting news
Colerain junior middle linebacker Jarrett Grace orally committed to Notre Dame on Saturday. Grace had 15 other scholarship offers. … Mount Healthy junior defensive lineman Joel Heath recently added offers from Minnesota and Western Kentucky. Heath, who is 6-5 and 240 pounds, also has offers from North Carolina State, Ball State, Kent State, Ohio, Toledo and Bowling Green. … Cincinnati Wyoming junior defensive end Tony Davis (6-4, 250) has been offered by Minnesota. He also has offers from Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Toledo, Ohio and Kent State. … Cincinnati Elder senior middle linebacker Nick Ambeliotis has committed to play football at Robert Morris, according to ScoutingOhio.com.
Random thoughts
Monroe football coach Ken Meibers stepped down for personal reasons, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Meibers was the head coach for two seasons and had a 14-8 record at the school. The school has not placed a timeline on naming a new coach. … The Best of the West track and field event is May 6 at Oak Hills High School. Several teams are expected to compete. The event starts at 4:15 p.m. … Mason softball pitcher Christin Miller threw a perfect game on April 14 as the Comets defeated Princeton 9-0. She recorded 15 strikeouts. Mason coach Brian Castner said he couldn’t remember another Mason pitcher with a perfect game since he had been coaching the team.
