WEST CHESTER TWP. — The Lakota West High School softball team will have a different look in 2023.
But longtime coach Keith Castner said the new vibe won’t take away from his Firebirds’ goal of returning to the Division I state tournament. Lakota West brings back just one starter from last year’s stacked state title squad.
“We’re growing each day in practice,” Castner said. “We have to embrace the change. That’s what the girls talk about all the time — embracing the change.”
The Firebirds, who went 29-3 last season, return senior center fielder Tionna Bright. She batted .386 and slugged 22 hits and 19 RBI.
“We’ve got other seniors who will hopefully understand that it will be their turn this year,” Castner said. “They don’t have a lot of varsity experience, but they’re finding a way to help the situation as much as possible.”
Senior Morgan Stevens will play catcher, and there will be a pitcher by committee deal with sophomores Paige Treherne and Jamie Fasig, according to Castner.
Treherne and Fasig went a combined 2-0 and saw only 19 innings in the circle between the two. That’s because of graduate KK Mathis, who wiped the Lakota West record book clean during her stellar high school career.
In terms of the rest of the lineup, Castner noted, that’s a tossup.
“These girls know what they want to be. They want to be what last year’s team was,” Castner said. “A lot of the girls were there with us last year, and they were able to see what they need to do to bring (a state title) back to southwest Ohio.
“Their focus is No. 1 on the list, and No. 2, they’re paying attention. They want to learn.”
In the Firebirds’ two scrimmages, Castner said he saw more mistakes than he would have liked to have seen, yet he expects that to change as the season gets underway.
Lakota West opens things up on Monday against Greater Miami Conference rival Oak Hills, which tied the Firebirds atop the league standings at 16-2 last season.
The Highlanders, on the other hand, return eight of their nine starters.
“All three of our games were very good games with them,” Castner said. “We’re hoping that some consistency will determine what we will look like. But right now, we just don’t have that.
“Again, we’ve got to accept change. There are times when we get on them a little bit, but they’re wanting to get better.”
2023 Lakota West Firebirds Season Snapshot
Coach — Keith Castner, 20th season.
2022 Record — 28-4 overall, 16-2 Greater Miami Conference (first place).
2022 Postseason — Beat Colerain (12-0), St. Ursula (11-0), Kings (13-2), Mason (5-4), Oak Hills (3-2), Hoovers (13-5), Holland Springfield (9-2).
2023 Lakota West Firebirds Roster
Number Player Class Position
1 Tionna Bright Senior CF
7 Jamie Fasig Sophomore P, OF
24 Leilah Ferrari Senior SS
3 Korinne Gaalaas Senior RF
30 Virginia Johnson Senior IF
16 Natalie Jordon Junior OF
23 Aspen Lans Senior OF
6 Lizzy Meyer Sophomore 3B
15 Kenzie Muncy Junior IF
13 Ava Ostendorf Senior IF
18 Mayleigh Sharp Sophomore C
2 Morgan Stevens Senior C
28 Paige Treherne Sophomore P
25 Sydney Williams Freshman 2B
2023 Lakota West Firebirds Schedule
MAR. 2023
Mon. 27 at Oak Hills 05:00 PM
Wed. 29 Hamilton 05:00 PM
Thu. 30 Talawanda 05:00 PM
Fri. 31 Princeton 05:00 PM
APR. 2023
Mon. 3 at Colerain 05:00 PM
Wed. 5 Mason 05:00 PM
Thu. 6 at Middletown 05:00 PM
Fri. 7 at Greenville 06:00 PM Armco
Fri. 7 at Miamisburg 08:00 PM Armco
Mon. 10 Sycamore 05:00 PM
Tue. 11 at Little Miami 05:00 PM
Wed. 12 Fairfield 05:00 PM
Fri. 14 at Lakota East 05:00 PM
Mon. 17 Oak Hills 05:00 PM
Tue. 18 Kings 05:00 PM
Wed. 19 at Hamilton 05:00 PM
Thu. 20 at Centerville 05:00 PM
Fri. 21 at Princeton 05:00 PM
Mon. 24 Colerain 05:00 PM
Tue. 25 Turpin 05:00 PM
Wed. 26 at Mason 05:00 PM
Fri. 28 Middletown 05:00 PM
Sat. 29 Mercy McAuley 01:00 PM
MAY. 2023
Mon. 1 at Sycamore 05:00 PM
Wed. 3 at Fairfield 05:00 PM
Thu. 4 Seton 05:00 PM
Fri. 5 Lakota East 05:00 PM
