SETTING THE SCENE: The second-seeded Milford High School softball team will open its “second season,” the OHSAA Tournament, the same way it kicked off the regular season when the Eagles host Colerain on Thursday, May 12 at 5 p.m. The three-time reigning Eastern Cincinnati Conference Champions begin tournament play after a first round bye with a 19-3 overall record. With rain having played havoc with this season’s schedule, the Eagles will also attempt to squeeze in another regular season games in the coming days as they are scheduled to take on Lakota West and Grove City Central Crossing.
A HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP: With its victory over Kings on May 2, the Eagles wrapped up their third consecutive Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship in just the fourth year of the league’s existence. Three days later, Milford made ECC history once again with another win against Kings as they closed out the first-ever undefeated record in league play, finishing an unscathed 14-0.
THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
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Thursday, May 12 vs. Colerain, 5:00 p.m. (OHSAA Tournament)
- 2016 Record: 7-17, 5-13 GMC (NR Division I area coaches’ final poll)
- Top Hitter: Sophomore Baylee Hobeika (.443/5 XBH/11 RBI/3 SB)
- Top Pitcher: Junior Brittany Smith (6.24 ERA/3-9 record)
- Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 4, Colerain 0
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Saturday, May 14 vs. Central Crossing, 10:00 a.m. {at Lebanon Junior High} (Regular Season)
- 2016 Record: 16-7, 9-5 OCC
- Top Hitter: N/A
- Top Pitcher: N/A
- Last Meeting: N/A
A LOOK BACK: May 2 vs. Kings: Milford scored three times in the first and then rode a one-hit shutout by Valerie Thompson to an Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship-clinching 9-0 win over Kings on May 2. The Eagles really put the game out the reach in the sixth as they scored five times to seal the victory. Freshman Reilly Edwards had one of her best games to date, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, while three of her teammates added two hits apiece. Thompson, who faced just one batter over the minimum, struck out five in earning her 15th win of the year.
May 5 at Kings: The Eagles backed up their win earlier in the week over Kings, knocking off the Knights by a 4-1 score on May 5. Two Kings first inning errors led to a pair of Milford runs, ultimately the only markers they would need on the afternoon. The Eagles added their final two runs on a third inning wild pitch and a sixth inning RBI single by Lexi Richmond.
May 6 vs. Harrison: Junior pitcher Valerie Thompson was at her best once again, hurling her ninth shutout of the season, this time a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over Harrison on May 6. Milford scored the game’s only runs in the fourth, one on a Katelyn Reynolds RBI single, another on a Harrison error and a third on a Thompson sacrifice fly. Celebrating Senior Night, Kelly Noll had two hits including a double, while Thompson whiffed four and walked none.
May 7 at Northmont: Milford saw its 16-game winning streak come to an end as Northmont handed the Eagles a 5-3 loss on May 7. The Thunderbolts, seeded second in the Dayton regional, overcame a pair of early one run deficits with two runs in the bottom of the third to go ahead for good. Katelyn Rheude started the game off with a bang for the Eagles, hitting her first career home run leading off. Katelyn Reynolds and Hannah White each added two hits in the setback
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 22 games:
Batting Average: Kelsey Seitz (.574), Katelyn Reynolds (.514), Kelly Noll (.492)
Slugging Percentage: Kelsey Seitz (.809), Katelyn Reynolds (.757), Kelly Noll (.600)
On Base Percentage: Kelsey Seitz (.643), Katelyn Reynolds (.583), Kelly Noll (.570)
Runs Scored: Katelyn Reynolds (32), Kelly Noll (31), Katelyn Rheude (26)
Hits: Katelyn Reynolds (36), Kelly Noll (32), Kelsey Seitz (27)
RBI: Kelsey Seitz (24), Three Tied (22)
Doubles: Katelyn Reynolds (10), Kelsey Seitz (7), Kelly Noll/Katelyn Rheude (5)
Triples: Katelyn Rheude (3), Katelyn Reynolds/Kelsey Seitz (2)
Home Runs: Katelyn Rheude/Katelyn Reynolds/Hannah White (1)
Walks: Katelyn Reynolds/Hannah White (12), Kelly Noll (11)
Stolen Bases: Kelly Noll (11), Kelsey Seitz (8), Katelyn Reynolds (6)
Wins: Valerie Thompson (17), Reilly Edwards (2)
Saves: None
ERA: Valerie Thompson (1.01), Reilly Edwards (3.09)
Innings: Valerie Thompson (124.2), Reilly Edwards (11.1)
Opponents Batting Average: Valerie Thompson (.159), Reilly Edwards (.179)
Strikeouts: Valerie Thompson (125), Reilly Edwards (11)
INSIDE THE ECC: Milford wrapped up its third consecutive Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship, finishing 14-0 and three games ahead of a second place tie between Kings and Turpin. Loveland finished fourth at 7-7.
The schedule for ECC teams still alive in the tournament includes: No. 2 Milford vs. No. 15 Colerain (May 12, 5:00 p.m. at Milford), No. 12 vs. No. 7 Fairfield (May 12, 5:00 p.m. at Fairfield), No. 9 Turpin vs. No. 4 Mount Notre Dame (May 12, 5:00 p.m. at Expressway Park, Milford), No. 8 Kings vs. No. 6 Amelia (May 12, 5:00 p.m. at Amelia).
POLL WATCH: Milford earned the No. 3 position in the final Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll for this season, released on May 2. The Eagles also received one first place vote and finished behind champion Mason (13 No. 1 votes) and Lakota East (one vote). Lebanon and Oak Hills (one vote) round out the top-five. The ECC was also represented by Kings in 10th and Walnut Hills and Turpin in the others receiving votes category. The final coaches’ poll can be viewed at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.