News Archive
Softball Begins Pursuit Of Fifth Consecutive ECC Title
SETTING THE SCENE: While several of the faces may be different, the Milford High School softball team hopes to repeat the result of the last four seasons as the Eagles open 2018 with the same goal, repeating as Eastern Cincinnati Conference Champions. Now in her 16th year as the Eagles’ head coach, Christy Gregory boasts yet another talented roster, albeit a young one as the 2018 season begins to unfold. The season begins this week over Spring Break, first with a trip to Tennessee for a pair of games, before returning home for a Friday home doubleheader against Greenville.
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: Despite the graduation of four All-ECC first team selections from last year, the cupboard is far from bare for the Eagles. After another dominating season, Milford placed six on last year’s All-ECC first team and two of those, senior SS Sydnee Harris and junior C Katelyn Reynolds are back as the anchors of the 2018 squad. Harris was a fixture at the top of the batting order last year and hit .441 with 14 extra-base hits, 40 runs scored and a team-best 15 stolen bases. Reynolds has been Milford’s two-year starting catcher who has produced at the plate on a high level as well. In 2017, Reynolds .488 with 12 doubles, four triples, a home run and 35 RBI.
The Eagles also feature a pair of returning all-conference second team choices in senior OF Kyrsten Brown and senior INF/OF Katie Hall. In her first year as an Eagle, Brown hit a solid .316 with four extra-base hits, 12 RBI and four stolen bases. Hall tallied 15 RBI and a team-high 24 walks in her first full varsity season as well.
While the Eagles’ offense has plenty of weapons, in the circle, sophomore Hillary Huffer is the only experienced returnee. In nine appearances, Huffer scored a 3-0 record and a 1.59 ERA. Other potential hurlers are freshman Emily Allphin and Sam Boothby. Allphin and Boothy are among five freshmen to join the roster, along with a senior newcomer in Lynn Varner.
THE UPCOMING DOCKET: A look at Milford’s schedule for the upcoming week:
- Monday, March 26-Tuesday, March 27 Tennessee Trip
- Monday, March 26 at Goodpasture Christian Academy, 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 27 at Cheatham County Central, 12:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 30 vs. Greenville (DH), 3:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
- 2017 Record: 28-4, 15-0 GWOC
- Top Returning Hitter: Sophomore Baylee Petry (.463/14 XBH/33 RBI/0 SB)
- Top Returning Pitcher: Sophomore Baylee Petry (0.98 ERA/26-4 record)
- Last Meeting: 2017; Milford 6, Greenville 3
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s returning statistical leaders from last season:
Batting Average: Katelyn Reynolds (.488), Sydnee Harris (.441), Kyrsten Brown (.316)
Slugging Percentage: Katelyn Reynolds (.756), Sydnee Harris (.602), Hillary Huffer (.405)
On Base Percentage: Katelyn Reynolds (.564), Sydnee Harris (.552), Katie Hall (.448)
Runs Scored: Sydnee Harris (40), Lilly Copp/Katie Hall (23)
Hits: Katelyn Reynolds (42), Sydnee Harris (41), Kyrsten Brown (24)
RBI: Katelyn Reynolds (35), Hillary Huffer (22), Sydnee Harris (17)
Doubles: Sydnee Harris (13), Katelyn Reynolds (12), Kyrsten Brown (3)
Triples: Katelyn Reynolds (4), Hillary Huffer (2), Kyrsten Brown/Sydnee Harris (1)
Home Runs: Hillary Huffer (2), Katelyn Reynolds (1)
Walks: Katie Hall (24), Katelyn Reynolds (20), Sydnee Harris (17)
Stolen Bases: Sydnee Harris (15), Lilly Copp (7), Katelyn Reynolds (5)
Wins: Hillary Huffer (3)
Saves: None
ERA: Hillary Huffer (1.59)
Innings: Hillary Huffer (22.0)
Opponents Batting Average: Hillary Huffer (.200)
Strikeouts: Hillary Huffer (15)
POLL WATCH: Milford enters the spring as the fifth ranked team in the area according to a preseason polling of the Division I coaches, released on March 19 and sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mason is the favorite of the 18 voting coaches, taking nine top nods, ahead of Lebanon (seven votes), Lakota East (two votes) and Lakota West. Other ECC teams to receive votes include newcomer West Clermont, Kings and Anderson. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.
