Week in Sports: Lakers Lacrosse Falls in Playoffs, Girls Soccer Wins Division Title

The week ahead promises exciting action as many teams finish their league schedules. Check back for results throughout the week at West Bloomfield Patch and feel free to submit your own photos to Tim.Rath@Patch.com.

Monday

The boys lacrosse team is "clearly a team on a mission," said Coach Ed Anderson after beating Ann Arbor Skyline High School at home Monday, 12-8. Senior attacker Nathan Rabens led the way on offense with six goals on 11 shots to improve his season total to a team-lead 73 goals, and senior midfielder Alex Lauri added two goals to improve his total to 22 on the season. After finishing 3-7 last season, the team improved its record to 9-5 despite some mistakes on defense.

"We gave (Skyline) four easy, man-down, goals," Anderson said.

The coach has said his team is much improved and expects to win. But Anderson added that the squad will need continued excellence from its defense and midfield and that the players will need to attack if they're to beat Saginaw Heritage High School on Thursday in the first round of the regional playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Lakers boys baseball team continued its improved season with two wins in a doubleheader over Bloomfield Andover High School. Senior pitcher Eric Steele led the way in the first game as the Lakers won, 9-5, in part thanks to Steele's complete game, as well as Timo DeYoung's 3-for-3 game including three RBI and two doubles. Ryan Bilkovic scored three runs in the game.

Dillon Dexter followed Steele's performance with a complete game, three-hitter on the mound in addition to two hits at the bat as the Lakers won the second game in dominating fashion, 7-1. DeYoung led the way at the plate once again, going 2-for-2 with 3 RBI, and Bilkovic, David Portney and Tyler Grafmiller each added two hits as well. The Lakers improved their record to 12-8 overall on the season with the two wins.

The Lakers softball team did not fare as well, dropping both games of a doubleheader on the road against Rochester Adams High School. Allyson Kus was a bright spot for the Lakers, having pitched all of both games and allowing just four hits with no earned runs in the first game, a 4-2 loss. Catherine Langford went 3-for-4 with three singles and RaeLynn Clark went 2-for-3 with two singles.

West Bloomfield High's record currently stands at 3-14 overall on the season with the two losses.

Girls tennis: WBHS vs. Ann Arbor Huron Valley High School, 4 p.m.
Girls softball: WBHS at Adams High, 4:30 p.m.
Boys baseball: WBHS vs. Andover High, doubleheader with games at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Boys lacrosse: WBHS vs. Skyline High, 7 p.m.

Tuesday

As the clock ticked down the remaining seconds, the Lakers bench screamed with each number in anticipation of the game ending in victory. They didn’t have to — the WBHS girls soccer team played a decisive

With that win and Bloomfield Andover High School's loss to Lahser High School the same night, the Lakers (9-2-2) clinched their first Oakland Activities Association White Division championship since 2004. Seniors Julia Kempf, Niki Zuk, and Bronte Payne each scored one goal for the Lakers, who now await the winner of a game between Waterford Mott High School and Huron Valley Lakeland High School for a playoff game June 2.

“We’ve worked so hard,” senior midfielder Taylor Hotz said with a breathless grin. “A bunch of us have been on the team since our freshman year, and now, finally, getting here in our senior year — it’s just the best feeling ever.”

Girls soccer: WBHS vs. Farmington High, 7 p.m.

Wednesday

The Lakers boys baseball team saw its record fall to 12-9 after falling to Bloomfield Lahser High School, 7-4. Although WBHS had a one-run lead in the fifth inning, Lahser High hit two home runs off of the starting pitcher Grafmiller to take the lead. Meanwhile, the WBHS lacrosse team lost to South Lyon East High School, 9-7.

Boys baseball: WBHS at Bloomfield Lahser High School, 4 p.m.
Girls softball: WBHS at North Farmington High School, doubleheader with games at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Boys lacrosse: WBHS at South Lyon East High School, 7 p.m.

Thursday

The Lakers lost in its first-round playoff game to Saginaw Heritage High, 11-10 in a game described by Hawks Head Coach Joe Martuch as a “war of attrition” after West Bloomfield roared back from an 11-8 deficit in the final 1:57.

“We’re just thrilled to get out of West Bloomfield with a playoff win,” said Martuch. “We knew that they were well-coached and that (Rabens) is a great player. Our strategy was to dump it in as many times as we could and hope for the best and it worked out more times than not.”

The Lakers improved their record from 6-10 last season to 10-6 this year, under first-year head coach Ed Anderson. Anderson vowed that although the Lakers would miss senior leaders, including Rabens, captain Alex Lauri, and Zach Lederman, that the team's fans should get used to seeing WBHS lacrosse in the playoffs.

“This is a very talented team — frankly, I thought that we played better than (Saginaw Heritage High) tonight and that the reason we lost is because we were tired. We’re losing a lot of leadership, but we’ll be back. I’m looking forward to developing new players and seeing how quickly I can progress them,” said Anderson, who was greeted by a gang of parents after the game offering thanks.

Boys golf: vs. Plymouth Christian High School, , 4 p.m.
Boys lacrosse: WBHS vs. Saginaw Heritage High, 6 p.m.

Friday

Girls softball: WBHS at Farmington quad, time to be announced.
Boys baseball: WBHS vs. Royal Oak High School, doubleheader with games at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Saturday

Track and field: WBHS regional meet, 9:30 a.m.
Girls soccer: WBHS at Kettering High School, 5145 Hatchery Rd., Waterford, 11 a.m.