Girls in grades 9–12 who want to try out for Lakota West softball this spring must attend an informational meeting with a parent on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. in the Lakota West Freshman Auditorium, 5050 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

The program posted the announcement Tuesday, Aug. 18 on the Firebirds athletics website, noting that one parent or guardian must accompany each athlete. Families with questions can email varsity head coach Keith Castner at [email protected].

Attendance is not optional. Without it, players cannot move forward in the tryout process for the spring 2027 season.

Castner, who surpassed 500 career wins in 2022, leads a coaching staff that includes assistants Dave Burbrink, Kat Burbrink and Katie Sullivan, along with JV head coach Sallie Betzold.

The Firebirds are coming off a spring 2026 season that produced six all-conference selections. Junior outfielder Paige Kopp and senior infielder Bella Lucas earned First Team All-Conference honors, while senior outfielder Mia Anderson, junior designated hitter Jordan Beimesche, junior pitcher Ava Gilbert and senior infielder Claire Wilburn landed on the Second Team. Leah Witmer received the conference Sportsmanship Award.

Junior pitcher Lyla Gully delivered one of the season's signature moments, throwing a perfect game against Middletown. Fourteen strikeouts in five innings.

The program's pipeline extends beyond high school. In spring 2026, former Firebird Belle Hummel set Ohio University's single-season records with 87 hits and 77 runs, Molly Grace hit a two-run homer in Dayton's Atlantic 10 Tournament and KK Mathis went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in Duke's ACC Tournament Final Four.

The Sept. 2 meeting is the only announced step in the spring 2027 tryout process. Tryout dates and roster timelines have not yet been published.