Photo Cutline: Signing a Letter of Intent is: Laken Ward (second from left) seated beside her father Scotty, and her mother Darcie. Looking on from the back row is Harrison Central Athletic Director Ray Hibbs (left), Kent State Tuscarawas Athletic Director Rob Brindley, Harrison Central Principal Ken Parker and Harrison Central Softball Coach Darrin Young.

Kent State University at Tuscarawas is announcing the signing of a 2018 Harrison Central High School senior to their softball team. On May 15, 2018, Laken Ward signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball for the Kent State Tuscarawas Golden Eagles.

Ward was a three-year letter winner for the Huskies softball team and was also a multi-year letter winner for the soccer team. In softball, she received the scholar athlete award, an academic letter two times and she has been a member of the National Honor Society for two years. She received East District Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association First and Second Team player awards, earned All Ohio Valley Athletic Conference honors twice along with a spot on the Buckeye 8 All-Conference team and served as team captain for one season. She recently helped raise more than $2k for Cystic Fibrosis, is a junior firefighter for the Tappan Lake Volunteer Fire Department and helps fundraise for the Hopedale Softball Association.

"We are pleased to have signed one of the Huskies' star players as our own," said Chuck Peach, Head Softball Coach for Kent State Tuscarawas. "Laken is a very opportunistic hitter and is a fielder that our pitching staff will have great confidence in. She is a quiet and unassuming individual who really cares about her teammates and who really wants to win. She is a great addition to our team and will be an asset to the Kent State Tuscarawas community as well."