By Skip Weaver

Contributing writer

Travis Lakins says he has some unfinished business to tend to in his final high school baseball season.

The Franklin High School senior and Ohio State University recruit saw his team knocked out of the postseason earlier than expected last year when the Wildcats fell to Southwestern Buckeye League rival Monroe in the Division II sectional finals.

Lakins, who posted a 10-3 record on the mound with a 1.02 earned run average and 100 strikeouts, said it was a disappointing end.

“It was very disappointing because we had beaten them twice during the regular season,” Lakins said. “But that has just served as fuel for this year. No doubt about it.”

Lakins wants his Wildcats to record a second straight SWBL Southwestern Division title and continue the winning tradition Franklin fans have grown accustomed to such as when the Wildcats reached the regional finals in 2010 when Lakins was a freshman.

“I really enjoyed being part of that team,” Lakins said, adding that the most memorable game of his high school career was the regional semifinal matchup with McNicholas that year. Before a long rain delay, Franklin was trailing the Rockets, but rallied for a come-from-behind victory to advance to the regional final game against Jonathan Alder. “We just looked like a different team after that rain delay.”

Lakins also has a personal goal of going undefeated on the hill this season.

“He’s a competitor,” new Franklin coach Jake Long said. “He’s bigger and stronger and he worked hard in the offseason.”

Long also said Lakins is a good shortstop and one of Franklin’s top three hitters.

 “He is a special player,” Long said. “Anytime you have a player who can perform in all aspects of the game, and especially when he is a pitcher, you know whenever you put the ball in his hands you have a chance to win.”

Lakins said he is glad to have his college decision out of the way so he can concentrate on the season ahead.

“Ohio State was always my dream school,” Lakins said. “I can’t wait for it to get here, but I right now I’m focused on Franklin baseball. This is my last high school season and I have to get the job done here.”

---

OTHERS TO WATCH

Jake Little, Monroe, senior

·         Helped Hornets reach Division II district tournament with .446 batting average and .544 on-base percentage

Jonathan Stone, Middletown, senior

·         He batted .344 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs before a season-ending injury last year

Alec Turner, Carlisle, junior

·         Led area in batting average (.487), home runs (6), RBIs (58) and doubles (17)

Logan Valentine, Fenwick, senior

·         Led the Falcons in doubles (7) and runs scored (27) while adding 13 RBIs and a .309 average

Andrew Zellner, Valley View, senior

·         Helped Spartans to a share of SWBL Southwestern Division title and was a first-team all-league selection

Click on Franklin's Travis Lakins motivated for baseball season to see more on area baseball