SETTING THE SCENE: Riding a nine-game winning streak, the Milford High School softball team heads into a challenging week against tough non-conference competition, while also trying to stay atop the Eastern Cincinnati Conference standings. Standing at 12-2 overall and a perfect 9-0 in league action, the Eagles face stiff tests in non-league play against Mount Notre Dame and Notre Dame Academy. A rematch between against fellow conference frontrunner Turpin also looms as does a doubleheader at Withrow. Milford is battling for its third straight ECC Championship.
THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
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Monday, April 25 at Turpin, 4:30 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 8-4, 7-1 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Hitter: Junior Molly Case (.517/4 XBH/12 RBI/1 SB)
- Top Pitcher: Junior Sarah Yarocki (1.08 ERA/4-0 record/1 SV)
- Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 7, Turpin 0
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Thursday, April 28 vs. Mount Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 10-1, 6-0 GGCL (7th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Hitter: Junior Shelby Nelson (.488/6 XBH/18 RBI/6 SB)
- Top Pitcher: Senior Sydney Zeuch (1.94 ERA/10-1 record)
- Last Meeting: 2010; Mount Notre Dame 3, Milford 0
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Friday, April 29 at Withrow (DH), 4:30 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 0-14, 0-9 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Hitter: N/A
- Top Pitcher: N/A
- Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 10, Withrow 0, Milford 12, Withrow 0
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Saturday, April 30 vs. Notre Dame (KY) {at Dixie Heights}, 8:00 p.m.
- 2016 Record: 9-3, 3-1 NKAC (3rd Northern Kentucky area coaches’ weekly poll)
- Top Hitter: N/A
- Top Pitcher: N/A
- Last Meeting: N/A
A LOOK BACK: April 18 at Glen Este: The Eagles ran their win streak to seven with a decisive 12-1 win at Glen Este on April 18. After yielding an unearned run in the bottom of the first, junior hurler Valerie Thompson settled in, yielding just three hits and a walk while striking out 10. Milford trailed until the third inning when it scored three times, before adding another pair in the fourth. They achieved the final winning margin with a combined seven runs in the last two innings. Freshman Katelyn Reynolds had a huge day at the plate with a double and a triple among three hits and a game-high four RBI. Four other Eagles posted two hits each including senior Kelly Noll who also scored three times.
April 20 vs. Glen Este: A six-run second inning outburst pushed Milford to its second win over Glen Este in three days, this time a 13-0, five-inning decision on April 20. Kelsey Seitz had the big hit of the second inning with a two-run double, part of a 3-for-3, two runs, three RBI day for the junior. Classmate Katelyn Rheude had a monster game, tallying three hits, including a triple, scoring four runs and driving in three. Katelyn Reynolds burned the Trojans for the second time in the week with two hits and four RBI. In the circle, junior Valerie Thompson and freshman Reilly Edwards combined on a one-hit shutout, with six strikeouts.
April 22 vs. Turpin: In the first of two battles between ECC front runners Milford and Turpin, the Eagles came out victorious, shutting out the Spartans by a 7-0 score on April 22. Valerie Thompson picked up yet another ECC shutout in the circle, yielding just two hits. Kelly Noll led the hit parade with a trio of knocks, while Kelsey Seitz scored three runs and had two hits.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 13 games:
Batting Average: Katelyn Reynolds (.561), Kelly Noll (.425), Hannah White (.417)
Slugging Percentage: Katelyn Reynolds (.805), Katelyn Rheude (.605), Hannah White (.556)
On Base Percentage: Katelyn Reynolds (.620), Hannah White (.543), Katelyn Rheude (.500)
Runs Scored: Katelyn Reynolds (21), Kelly Noll (19), Katelyn Rheude (18)
Hits: Katelyn Reynolds (23), Kelly Noll (17), Three tied (15)
RBI: Katelyn Rheude (16), Katelyn Reynolds/Kelsey Seitz (15)
Doubles: Katelyn Reynolds (6), Kelsey Seitz (5), Katelyn Rheude (4)
Triples: Katelyn Rheude/Katelyn Reynolds (2), Three Tied (1)
Home Runs: Hannah White (1)
Walks: Hannah White (8), Katelyn Reyonlds/Katelyn Rheude (7)
Stolen Bases: Kelly Noll (6), Kelly Carraro/Kelsey Seitz (5)
Wins: Valerie Thompson (11)
Saves: None
ERA: Valerie Thompson (0.75), Reilly Edwards (6.56)
Innings: Valerie Thompson (74.2), Reilly Edwards (5.1)
Opponents Batting Average: Valerie Thompson (.146), Reilly Edwards (.318)
Strikeouts: Valerie Thompson (94), Reilly Edwards (3)
INSIDE THE ECC: Milford continues to pace a tight race for the ECC crown, entering the week at 9-0. Turpin and Kings are both still very much in the race, each with just one league loss apiece. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Monday-Milford at Turpin, Anderson at Glen Este, Walnut Hills at Withrow, Loveland at Kings; Tuesday-Kings at Loveland, Glen Este at Anderson; Wednesday- Turpin at Glen Este, Loveland at Anderson, Walnut Hills at Kings; Thursday-Kings at Turpin; Friday-Glen Este at Turpin, Milford at Withrow (DH), Kings at Walnut Hills, Anderson at Loveland; Saturday-Anderson at Walnut Hills.
POLL WATCH: Milford continues to hold on to the No. 4 spot in the weekly Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ rankings, released on April 18. Mason is the heavy favorite at the top of the rankings with 15 of the 17 first place votes cast. Lakota East was second, with Lebanon (two first place votes) third and Lakota West rounding out the top-five. The ECC is represented in the others receiving votes category by Turpin, Kings and Loveland. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.