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

• 2018 Record: 20-9, 11-3 ECC
• Head Coach: Christy Gregory (18^th year at Milford)
• Top Returning Hitter: Senior Katelyn Reynolds (.414 BA/18 2B/1 3B/1 HR/44 RBI/5 SB)
• Top Returning Pitcher: Junior Hillary Huffer (11-7/3.24 ERA/118.2 IP/77 SO)

A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: The Eagles enter 2019 as the five-time and defending Eastern Cincinnati Conference Champions and have a squad that figures to be in the hunt for the crown again this spring. Veteran head coach Christy Gregory is back at the helm and her roster features five returning all-conference performers, including University of Akron commit Katelyn Reynolds, the only senior on this year’s team.

Reynolds has been outstanding all three years of her career and as a junior paced the team with 44 RBI and 18 doubles, while hitting .414. A first team All-ECC choice, Reynolds also had a triple, a home run and five stolen bases.

Milford’s other returning first team all-conference choice is junior Hillary Huffer. As a sophomore, Huffer was the Eagles’ top pitcher, winning 11 games, striking out 77 and posting a 3.24 ERA. She also hit .300 at the plate with 18 RBI.

A trio of freshmen earned All-ECC second team honors last spring and are back in the line-up against this year. Emily Allphin hit a robust .448 last year, smashing 15 doubles and a homer and driving in 30. She also got it done in the circle, owning nine victories and 40 strikeouts.

Olivia Craycraft his .361 as a freshman, and tied for the top spot on the team with a pair of home runs. She drove in 21 on the year with five total extra-base hits. Morgan Whitaker was another impactful freshman, hitting .398 with 11 doubles, two homers and 27 RBI.

Junior Lilly Copp and sophomores Sam Boothby and Megan Stulz also saw varsity time last year and are back in the mix this spring. Another junior, Shelbi Wilhoite, also returns after playing as a freshman. Newcomers that round out the roster include freshmen Kaitlyn Bibb, Molly Bloom, Taylor Stemmerding and Brooklyn Stewart.

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

• Tuesday, March 26 at Mercy McAuley, 4:30 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: N/A
  • Top Returning Hitter: N/A
  • Top Returning Pitcher: N/A
  • Last Meeting: N/A
• Wednesday, March 27 at Lebanon, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: 26-4, 11-0 GWOC
  • Top Returning Hitter: Senior Grace Gressly (.468/16 XBH/42 RBI/2 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Senior Kat Frank (1.46 ERA/25-4 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2016; Milford 3, Lebanon 1
• Friday, March 29 vs. Little Miami, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: 15-9, 7-5 SWOC
  • Top Returning Hitter: Sophomore Emma Glardon (.493/8 XBH/21 RBI/16 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Junior Casey Kemp (2.83 ERA/5-3 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2012; Milford 3, Little Miami 2 & Milford 7, Little Miami 3
• Saturday, March 30 vs. Clinton Massie, 11:00 a.m.
  • 2018 Record: 26-5, 9-1 SBAAC
  • Top Returning Hitter: Sophomore Natalie Lay (.456/21 XBH/36 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Senior Taylor Florea (2.91 ERA/16-4 record/1 SV)
  • Last Meeting: N/A
• Saturday, March 30 vs. Ursuline, 3:00 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: 18-4, 10-0 GGCL
  • Top Returning Hitter: Sophomore Jane Kronenberger (.533/14 XBH/33 RBI/6 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Sophomore Mary Newton (1.13 ERA/13-2 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2018; Ursuline 9, Milford 6

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s returning statistical leaders from last season:

Batting Average: Emily Allphin (.448), Katelyn Reynolds (.414), Morgan Whitaker (.398)

Slugging Percentage: Katelyn Reynolds (.646), Emily Allphin (.635), Morgan Whitaker (.591)

On Base Percentage: Emily Allphin (.481), Morgan Whitaker (.480), Katelyn Reynolds (.452)

Runs Scored: Katelyn Reynolds/Morgan Whitaker (31), Olivia Craycraft (29)

Hits: Emily Allphin (43), Katelyn Reynolds (41), Morgan Whitaker (35)

RBI: Katelyn Reynolds (44), Emily Allphin (30), Morgan Whitaker (27)

Doubles: Katelyn Reynolds (18), Emily Allphin (15), Morgan Whitaker (11)

Triples: Sam Boothby/Olivia Craycraft/Katelyn Reynolds (1)

Home Runs: Olivia Craycraft/Morgan Whitaker (2), Emily Allphin/Katelyn Reynolds (1)

Walks: Olivia Craycraft (11), Katelyn Reynolds (10), Morgan Whitaker (9)

Stolen Bases: Olivia Craycraft (7), Katelyn Reynolds (5), Lilly Copp/Morgan Whitaker (4)

Wins: Hillary Huffer (11), Emily Allphin (9)

Saves: None

ERA: Hillary Huffer (3.24), Emily Allphin (4.51), Sam Boothby (6.00)

Innings: Hillary Huffer (118.2), Emily Allphin (54.1), Sam Boothby (4.2)

Opponents Batting Average: Hillary Huffer (.298), Emily Allphin (.330), Sam Boothby (.370)

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.