As we prepare for our 2014 high school preseason coverage, we are going to take a quick glance at teams from across the state.

Team: Lakota West
Class: DI
League: Greater Miami Conference
Head Coach: Bill Dreisbach
2013 Overall Record: 16-14
2013 Conference Record: 9-9
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS 
Blaine Griffiths, OF, 2014 ... Committed to Xavier
Grant Schuermann, LHP, 2014 ... Committed to Furman
Aaron Bruch, UTL/RHP, 2014
Ryan Langhorst, RHP, 2014
Austin Allinger, RHP/INF, 2015
Dallas Hall, OF/IF, 2015 ... Committed to Miami
Brandon Giltrow, C, 2015

YOUNG UP AND COMERS
Andrew Weigal, OF/1B, 2016
Justin Moyer, IF/RHP, 2016
Kyle Buchanan, IF/RHP, 2016

OUTLOOK:  

If the pieces come together, Lakota West has a chance to be a top five program in southwest Ohio this spring. Senior outfielder Blaine Griffiths (Xavier recruit) will return to the middle of the order while transfer Dallas Hall (Miami recruit) figures to be a spark plug at the beginning of the lineup. Senior southpaw Grant Schuermann (Furman recruit), who went 6-2 with a 2.28 ERA last season, will man the front of the rotation while junior Austin Allinger, 5-2 with a 2.81 ERA, figures to help the team on the mound, in the field, and at the plate. But, in order for the Firebirds to take that next step, new arms will need to emerge to create depth in the rotation.

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COACHES PRE-SEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate the strong response so far from high school coaches across the state assisting with our pre-season coverage.  If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches pre-season questionnaire online by clicking here.