Softball Opens ECC Action, Plays In Pair Of Special Events In Busy Week Ahead

A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: A capsule look at the 2019 team:

• 2019 Record: 2-1, 0-0 ECC
• Head Coach: Christy Gregory (18^th year at Milford)
• Top Hitter: Sophomore Olivia Craycraft (.556 BA/1 2B/1 3B/0 HR/0 RBI/1 SB)
• Top Pitcher: Junior Hillary Huffer (1-1/3.23 ERA/13.0 IP/10 SO)

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

• Tuesday, April 2 at Kings, 5:00 p.m. & Wednesday, April 3 vs. Kings, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2019 Record: 1-3, 0-0 ECC
  • Top Hitter: Freshman Abigail Noble (.429/0 XBH/0 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Junior Emily Brown (3.04 ERA/1-2 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2018; Kings 6, Milford 4 & Milford 6, Kings 0
• Thursday, April 4 at Springboro, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2019 Record: 2-2, 0-0 GWOC
  • Top Hitter: Senior Sophie Weber (.625/2 XBH/2 RBI/1 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Senior Molly Pfiffner (0.89 ERA/2-2 record)
  • Last Meeting: N/A
• Friday, April 5 vs. Western Brown, 5:00 p.m. {Friday Night Lights at Armco Park}
  • 2019 Record: 4-0, 1-0 SBAAC
  • Top Hitter: Sophomore McKenna Conley (.643/4 XBH/5 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Junior Sydni Barnes (0.00 ERA/4-0 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2018; Milford 4, Western Brown 3
• Friday, April 5 vs. Greenville, 7:00 p.m. {Friday Night Lights at Armco Park}
  • 2019 Record: 4-0, 2-0 GWOC
  • Top Hitter: Senior Lani Shilt (.889/1 XBH/2 RBI/2 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Sophomore Kennedy Fashner (0.00 ERA/1-0 record/2 SV)
  • Last Meeting: 2018; Greenville 5, Milford 2 & Milford 6, Greenville 1
• Sunday, April 7 vs. Fairfield, Noon {Reds Futures Showcase at Reds Youth Academy}
  • 2019 Record: 3-0, 3-0 GMC
  • Top Hitter: Senior Lindsey Mitchell (.583/4 XBH/5 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Senior Lindsey Mitchell (0.93 ERA/3-0 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2014; Milford 8, Fairfield 4

A LOOK BACK: March 26 at Mercy McAuley: Milford 8, Mercy McAuley 5

GAME REWIND

Milford went to work early, scoring six runs in its first two innings of the new season on the way to an 8-5 win in its first ever meeting with Mercy McAuley. Freshman Brooklyn Stewart’s first career at-bat, a two-RBI single, highlighted a five run first inning. The Eagles pounded out 11 hits on the day with sophomores Olivia Craycraft and Morgan Whitaker picking up three each.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 1-0; Mercy McAuley: 0-1

WP: Hillary Huffer; LP: Gracie Smith

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Olivia Craycraft 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R

Katelyn Reynolds 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI

Emily Allphin 2-3, 2B

Morgan Whitaker 3-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI

Brooklyn Stewart 2 RBI

Mercy McAuley

Camryn Sillies 3-4, 3 R

Katie Kearns 2B, 2 RBI

Maddy Henry 2 RBI

Gracie Smith 2B

March 27 at Lebanon: Lebanon 8, Milford 7

GAME REWIND

Milford scored three runs in the top of the first and led 5-3 after four innings, but Lebanon exploded for five in the last of the fifth inning to score a come-from-behind 8-7 victory over the Eagles. Sophomore Emily Allphin had Milford’s big hit of the day with a fourth inning home run, her first of the season and the second of her career.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 1-1; Lebanon: 1-0

WP: Kat Frank; LP: Hillary Huffer

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Olivia Craycraft 2-5

Taylor Stemmerding 2-4, 2B, 2 R

Emily Allphin HR

Sam Boothby 2-3, 2 RBI

Hillary Huffer 2 RBI

Brooklyn Stewart 2-4

Kaitlyn Bibb 2-3

Morgan Whitaker 2B

Lebanon

Logan Mueller 2-4, 3 R

Grace Gressly 2-3, 4 RBI

Audrey Masenheimer HR, 2 R, 2 RBI

March 29 at Milford: Milford 5, Little Miami 1

GAME REWIND

The Eagles were victorious in their home opener, knocking off future ECC foe Little Miami, 5-1. More information on this game coming soon.

EAGLES PLAYING IN REDS FUTURES SHOWCASE: Milford has been invited to participate in the annual Reds Futures Showcase on Sunday, April 7 at Noon. The Eagles will take on Fairfield at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy in Roselawn. Admission to the game is $5 and all fans will receive a voucher good for a free view level ticket to a select 2019 Reds game and a coupon good for a free Skylin Chili cheese coney.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through games of March 27:

Batting Average: Olivia Craycraft (.556), Emily Allphin/Morgan Whitaker (.500)

Slugging Percentage: Emily Allphin (1.167), Morgan Whitaker (1.000), Olivia Craycraft (.889)

On Base Percentage: Emily Allphin (.625), Olivia Craycraft (.556), Sam Boothby/Morgan Whitaker (.500)

Runs Scored: Emily Allphin/Olivia Crafycraft (3), Three tied (2)

Hits: Olivia Craycraft (5), Morgan Whitaker (4), Emily Allphin/Brooklyn Stewart (3)

RBI: Brooklyn Stewart/Morgan Whitaker (3), Three tied (2)

Doubles: Five tied (1)

Triples: Olivia Craycraft (1)

Home Runs: Emily Allphin/Morgan Whitaker (1)

Walks: Emily Allphin/Sam Boothby (2), Three tied (1)

Stolen Bases: Olivia Craycraft/Katelyn Reynolds (1)

Wins: Hillary Huffer (1)

Saves: None

ERA: Hillary Huffer (3.23)

Innings: Hillary Huffer (13.0)

Opponents Batting Average: Hillary Huffer (.310)

Strikeouts: Hillary Huffer (77), Emily Allphin (40), Sam Boothby (3)

COLLEGE BOUND EAGLE: The only senior on the Milford roster this spring has already announced her plans to continue playing softball on the collegiate level next year. Katelyn Reynolds signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Akron beginning this fall.