East's Hamilton Reaches 300 Wins

Lakota East head baseball coach Ray Hamilton notched win number 300 this week when the Thunderhawks defeated Middletown in the teams final regular season contest.

Hamilton’s overall record of 300 wins and 165 defeats spans 18 seasons as a head coach at Ross and Lakota East High School. His coaching accomplishments include 5 FAVC and 1 GMC league titles. Hamilton took over the East baseball program in the 2000 season, following in the footsteps of Lakota baseball coaching legend Jim Rouff (1981-1999). Rouff’s 277 wins (321 career) at Lakota and Lakota East rank him as the all-time leader in district athletic history. Hamilton, a 1983 Lakota grad, was a catcher on Rouff’s baseball team.

"I was drawn to Lakota for an opportunity to work with Jim Rouff and Stu Eversole," said Hamilton. "These two guys played a huge role in my wanting to teach and coach."

In eight seasons as the East baseball mentor he has accumulated 103 wins versus 96 losses. When asked for a personal highlight during his eight seasons with the Thunderhawks, Hamilton pointed to a win over Oak Hills that clinched the 2005 GMC Championship

"I’ve been fortunate to have some great teams and players during my career at Ross and now Lakota," commented Hamilton. "It just validates some of the things I’ve tried to do at both programs."

Hamilton will be looking for win number 301 when his Thunderhawks begin sectional tournament play May 8 against Edgewood.


Submitted by Dan Hilen, East Sports Information

Glen Este names coach

Glen Este has named Dave Caldwell as head boys' basketball coach. Caldwell is a former assistant varsity coach and head freshman coach at McNicholas.

He played football for four years at Wittenberg and was a basketball walk-on his sophomore and seniors years.

"What we liked best about Dave was not only his basketball sense...but he (has) a high sense of enthusiasm he brings to both the basketball team and the classroom," Glen Este AD Dan Simmons said.

Kings hires girls' basketball coach

John Karabinus has been named girls' basketball coach at Kings, pending Board of Education approval.

Karabinus was one of five finalists interviewed. He is currently a junior high history teacher and has been part of the junior high basketball program.

"John brings enthusiasm, knowledge of coaching basketball and passion toward making a positive impression on kids' lives," Kings AD Matt Koenig said in a statement.

"I truly feel that John will be able to lead our program in a direction that will make the Kings community proud of our women's basketball players."