PHOTO LEFT: Lakota West is back in the
state semifinals for the second straight year and play top-ranked
North Canton Hoover today at 5:30 p.m.
photo by Jim Owens
By Ed
Letsinger
Greater Miami Conference schools Lakota West and
Hamilton are both playing today in the Ohio Division I state fast-pitch
semifinals at Brookside Park in Ashland.
The Big Blue (25-6) takes on Elyria (27-5) at 3 p.m. and Lakota West
(28-3) plays North Canton Hoover at 5:30 p.m. Hamilton comes into their
game unranked while Elyria is ranked tenth. North Canton Hoover (29-2)
is ranked No. 1 while the Firebirds are ranked third.
The Firebirds, who lost in last year’s title game to Uniontown Lake, are
led by senior Lindsay Bodeker on the mound and junior catcher Rachael
Shepherd at the plate. Bodeker, a University of Akron recruit, has 319
strikeouts on the year while Shepherd is hitting over .400.
Hamilton is led by Evansville recruit Jennifer
McKee, who has 263 strikeouts on the season. Mimi Mahon is batting .347
at the plate.
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