SETTING THE SCENE: Featuring an offense that is averaging nearly 12 runs per game this season, the Milford High School softball team will put its 11-game win streak on the line when it hits the diamond for five games in the coming week. The Eagles have a challenging week ahead with tough non-conference games against Fairfield and Mount Notre Dame and Eastern Cincinnati Conference match-ups against two top squads in Turpin and Walnut Hills. The Eagles are 12-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in league play entering this week.

April 12 at Glen Este: Milford 14, Glen Este 0

Milford blew open a close game with a nine-run third inning outburst to put away Glen Este by a 14-0 score in a five inning contest. The Eagles sent 14 hitters to the plate in the inning, pounding out nine hits in the frame, including a big three-run home run by Kelsey Seitz.

THE BATS

The Eagles finished with five players with multi-hit games, including Katelyn Reynolds who had three singles and three RBI. Seitz had a huge day with four RBI, two hits and two runs scored. Valerie Thompson, Katelyn Rheude and Kyrsten Brown all had two hits apiece for MHS.

THE ARMS

Senior Valerie Thompson and freshman Hillary Huffer combined on a one-hit shutout as the duo shut down the Trojan offense. Thompson picked up the win after starting and striking out five in three innings, while Huffer completed two hitless innings to wrap up the day.

April 13 vs. Glen Eset: Milford 19, Glen Este 9

Milford jumped to an 8-0 second inning lead and watched as the scoreboard exploded in the final three frames as they earned a 19-9 win over Glen Este. The Eagles collected eight extra-base hits among their 16 knocks as the squad’s offense posted double figure runs for the third straight game.

THE BATS

In addition to the normal offensive heroes, the Eagles enjoyed contributions from several other players in another explosion at the plate. Freshman Lilly Copp had the best day of her short career with a double and a triple, while junior Katie Hall drove in three. Classmate Sydnee Harris went 2-for-3, while scoring three runs and driving in three. Kelsey Seitz had a double and a triple, while Katelyn Rheude added a pair of doubles and Hillary Huffer drove in three.

THE ARMS

Valerie Thompson shut the Trojans down for a second day in a row, allowing just one hit in three shutout innings and fanning five. Glen Este took advantage of several Milford errors to score nine unearned runs against Huffer in her three innings.

April 14 vs. Loveland: Milford 5, Loveland 1

Just days after dismantling Loveland by a 20-3 score, the Eagles scored late in holding on for a 5-1 win over the Tigers in the rematch between the squads. Milford scored twice in the fourth inning and then pulled away with a three-spot in the bottom of the sixth to take the four-run winning margin.

THE BATS

Loveland freshman hurler Katlyn Kramer limited the Eagles to a season-low four hits on the afternoon with freshman Hillary Huffer picked up the biggest hit of the day with a two-run sixth inning single.

THE ARMS

Valerie Thompson was phenomenal once again in her 10^th victory of the season, yielding just four hits over seven innings, with the only blemish a sixth inning home run by Loveland’s Maggie Bailey. Thompson finished the day with a season-high eight strikeouts.

April 15 vs. Carlisle: Milford 12, Carlisle 0

Milford sent 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run second inning as the Eagles crushed Carlisle by a 12-0 score in a game at Wayne High School. The big story of the day was the back-to-back second inning home runs by the duo of Katelyn Reynolds and Kelsey Seitz.

THE BATS

Katelyn Reynolds’ three-run homer was the big hit of the day, as she finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. Katelyn Rheude continued her hot hitting with a 3-for-3 day that included a double and two RBI. Senior Hannah Meenach and freshman Hillary Huffer added two RBI apiece in the triumph.

THE ARMS

Valerie Thompson and Hillary Huffer combined for yet another shutout, this time yielding Carlisle to just four hits in five innings. Thompson started and struck out five in her four innings of work to improve to 11-1 on the season.

April 15 at Wayne: Milford 14, Wayne 4

Milford ran its win streak to 11 straight, shaking off a pesky Wayne squad with a 14-4, six inning victory. The Eagles led just 5-4 after three innings, but scored nine unanswered to put the Warriors away.

THE BATS

Sydnee Harris went 4-for-5 with four runs scored from the lead off spot to jump start an 18-hit Milford attack. Kelsey Seitz had a pair of hits and drove in four, while Katelyn Rheude had three more hits. Katie Hall also drove in three for Milford.

THE ARMS

Valerie Thompson earned her 12^th win of the season with a complete game that saw the lefty allow just two earned runs for the day.

THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:

• Monday, April 17 vs. Turpin, 4:30 p.m. & Wednesday, April 19 at Turpin, 4:30 p.m.
  • 2017 Record: 5-3, 3-0 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Senior Dara Bausch (.556/5 XBH/16 RBI/3 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Senior Sarah Yarocki (1.67 ERA/2-1 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 7, Turpin 0 & Milford 5, Turpin 4
• Tuesday, April 18 vs. Fairfield, 4:30 p.m. (GAME IS CANCELLED)
  • 2017 Record: 8-5, 5-3 ECC (6^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Senior Maddie Koger (.490/12 XBH/12 RBI/3 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Junior Taylor Delk (2.68 ERA/7-3 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2014; Milford 8, Fairfield 4
• Thursday, April 20 vs. Mount Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.
  • 2017 Record: 8-0, 5-0 GGCL (8^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Sophomore Lydia Anderson (.667/6 XBH/15 RBI/8 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Senior Abby Nelson (4.72 ERA/7-0 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 9, Mount Notre Dame 0
• Friday, April 21 at Walnut Hills, 4:30 p.m.
  • 2017 Record: 4-7, 3-1 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Junior Isabella Leisgang (.457/3 XBH/12 RBI/8 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Junior Isabella Leisgang (4.52 ERA/3-6 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 10, Walnut Hills 0 & Milford 9, Walnut Hills 0

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 13 games:

Batting Average: Sydnee Harris (.583), Kelsey Seitz (.563), Katelyn Reynolds (.548)

Slugging Percentage: Kelsey Seitz (1.125), Katelyn Reynolds (.929), Katelyn Rheude (.756)

On Base Percentage: Sydnee Harris (.700), Katelyn Rheude (.608), Katelyn Reynolds (.593)

Runs Scored: Syndee Harris (24), Kelsey Seitz (20), Katelyn Rheude (18)

Hits: Kelsey Seitz (27), Katelyn Reynolds (23), Katelyn Rheude (22)

RBI: Kelsey Seitz (29), Katelyn Reynolds (25), Hillary Huffer (17)

Doubles: Katelyn Rheude (9), Katelyn Reynolds/Kelsey Seitz (7)

Triples: Kelsey Seitz (7), Katelyn Reynolds (3), Three Tied (1)

Home Runs: Kelsey Seitz (2), Hillary Huffer/Katelyn Reynolds (1)

Walks: Katie Hall (13), Sydnee Harris (10), Katelyn Reynolds (9)

Stolen Bases: Sydnee Harris (9), Katelyn Reynolds/Katelyn Rheude (4)

Wins: Valerie Thompson (12)

Saves: None

ERA: Valerie Thompson (1.40), Hillary Huffer (3.11)

Innings: Valerie Thompson (70.0), Hillary Huffer (9.0)

Opponents Batting Average: Valerie Thompson (.186), Hillary Huffer (.310)

Strikeouts: Valerie Thompson (58), Hillary Huffer (1)

POLL WATCH: Milford is ranked fifth with one No. 1 vote in the latest edition of the area Cincinnati Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll, released on April 10. Lebanon is the heavy favorite of the 18 voting coaches, picking up 11 first place votes. The Greater Miami Conference makes up spots two through four with Mason (three votes), Lakota West (one vote) and Lakota East (one vote) just ahead of the Eagles. The ECC is also represented by Turpin, Kings and Loveland all earning votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

COLLEGE BOUND EAGLES: A trio of seniors on the 2017 Eagles’ roster have already announced their intention to continue their athletic and academic careers on the collegiate level. Kelsey Seitz will attend will attend Trevecca Nazarene University, while Valerie Thompson has signed a National Letter of Intent at Tennessee State University. Most recently, Katelyn Rheude announced her intention to attend Notre Dame College and compete on the college level.