Jeneane “Lefty” DesCombes Lesko and the late Doyle Miller were inducted last week into the Indian Lake Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
The ceremony was adjusted to also recognize Indian Lake’s softball team and track athlete Elayna Richardson as they prepared for their respective state tournaments.
Dozens of friends and members of both families gathered for the ceremony in the ILHS auditorium after the community send-off for the softball team and standout sprinter.
IL Superintendent Dr. Rob Underwood said things certainly fell into place for this event.
“When we scheduled this ceremony back in March, we had no idea we’d be sending athletes to state on this very day,” he said. “I’ve got to think that’s some kind of sign.”
Dr. Underwood first presented the award for Doyle Miller to Miller’s daughter, Diane Mouser.
Miller was a 1941 graduate of Stokes (Lakeview) High School and a talented baseball player. He fought in World War II and lost a leg to a grenade.
Upon his return, Miller started Little League Baseball in Lakeview and coached youth sports for decades. He volunteered as an ILHS assistant softball coach for 20 years in the 1980s and 90s.
Miller is the namesake of the Lakeview AmVets Post #381, and despite his death in 2011, he is still known as one of Indian Lake’s biggest fans.
Mouser said, “He would be so excited for this softball team and these girls. He’d already be in Akron scouting out the opponent. He just loved youth sports.”
Next, Dr. Underwood presented Jeneane “Lefty” DesCombes Lesko the Distinguished Alumni Award.
“Lefty” graduated from Stokes (Lakeview) in 1953 and went on to play for the Grand Rapids Chicks in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (which inspired the hit movie A League of Their Own).
She is a member of the AAGPBL Hall of Fame and at 88-years old she still throws out first pitches at events all over the country.
Fellow inductee Doyle Miller encouraged her to play baseball in Lakeview with the boys, because there were no local teams for girls back then. Lefty has been a vocal advocate for Title IX-Women in Sports which is marking 50 years of becoming law.
“I am so proud because we had nothing in my days in this community. I’m so proud of the community and of the parents, how supportive they are.” She continued, “Lakeview and Indian Lake, it hasn’t changed that much, But certainly sports for girls has rocketed and I’m so, so happy to see that.”
Lefty is also an inductee of the Ohio Northern University Hall of Fame and a member of the LPGA in its very earliest days. She is a math, physical education and science teacher who spent years teaching in Europe and Puerto Rico. She now lives in Washington state.
After the ceremony, Lefty and Miller’s family posed for photos, checked out their newly hung plaques outside the ILHS Auditorium and enjoyed an intimate reception.
This the first time since the inception of the awards that Indian Lake has honored two alumni in one year. This is also the first time an award has been given posthumously.