SETTING THE SCENE: The Milford High School softball team will look to make a big impact in its quest for another Eastern Cincinnati Conference titles as the Eagles take the field for four games in league play. Milford is 5-3 on the year and 1-0 in the ECC entering the week, with double match-ups against both Loveland and West Clermont on this week’s slate.

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

• Monday, April 9 vs. Loveland, 5:00 p.m. & Tuesday, April 10 at Loveland, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: 2-1, 2-0 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Senior Lexi Braun (.571/2 XBH/6 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Sophomore Livia McClellan (6.75 ERA/1-1 record/1 SV)
  • Last Meeting: 2017; Milford 20, Loveland 3 & Milford 5, Loveland 1
• Wednesday, April 11 vs. West Clermont, 5:00 p.m. & Friday, April 13 at West Clermont, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: 4-2, 1-0 ECC (8^th Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Freshman Reece Hampton (.818/3 XBH/10 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Senior Nicole Brown (1.75 ERA/2-0 record)
  • Last Meeting: First meeting

A LOOK BACK: April 5 at Milford: Milford 15, Anderson 7

GAME REWIND

Milford erased a 7-2 deficit with a 10-run fifth inning explosion as the Eagles opened Eastern Cincinnati Conference play with a 15-7 win over Anderson. The decisive inning featured eight Milford hits, as well as four errors by the Redskins. The big hits in the frame came by freshman Emily Allphin with a two-run double and a two RBI single by Hillary Huffer.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 3-2, 1-0 ECC; Anderson: 1-1, 0-1 ECC

WP: Hillary Huffer; LP: Stella Wulker

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Sydnee Harris 2-4, 2 R

Katelyn Reynolds 2B, 3 RBI

Emily Allphin 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI

Olivia Craycraft 2-4, 3 R

Anderson

Natalie Johns 2-3, 2 R

Ellie Caldwell 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Stella Wulker 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI

April 6 at Armco Park (Lebanon): Mason 13, Milford 3

GAME REWIND

Mason broke open a close game with a four-run fourth inning, then added five more before the conclusion as the Comets handed the Eagles a 13-3 setback in the first game of Friday Night Lights at Armco Park in Lebanon. The Comets’ offensive was in high gear, pounding out 16 hits and taking advantage of five Milford errors in the field.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 3-3; Mason: 4-0

WP: Katie DeBord; LP: Emily Allphin

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Lynn Varner 2 RBI

Olivia Craycraft 2B

Kyrsten Brown 2-3, 2B

Mason

Tori O’Brien 2-5, 3 RBI, SB

Olivia Popovich 3-5

Elana Harrison 3-4, 4 R, 5 RBI, 2 3B

Ali Weekley 2-5, 3 RBI, 2B

April 6 at Armco Park (Lebanon): Milford 8, Centerville 5

GAME REWIND

Milford pushed across four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to record an 8-5 win over Centerville in the nightcap of Friday Night Lights in Lebanon. The game was tied at three after five innings, but the Elks scored twice to take the lead in the top of the sixth. In the winning inning, the Eagles got RBI from Katelyn Reynolds, Emily Allphin and Morgan Whitaker in securing the victory.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 4-3; Centerville: 2-2

WP: Hillary Huffer; LP: Samantha Ross

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Katelyn Reynolds 3-4, 3B, 2 R

Emily Allphin 2B

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

Centerville

Emma Schutter 2-3

April 8 at Reds Youth Academy: Milford 11, Harrison 7

GAME REWIND

Milford struck early and often, scoring all 11 runs in the first three innings to pick up an 11-7 win over Harrison in the Cincinnati Reds Futures Showcase. Junior Katelyn Reynolds won game MVP honors, leading the victory with two hits and three RBI.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 5-3; Harrison: 2-2

WP: Hillary Huffer; LP: Emily Wisman

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Sydnee Harris 2-3, 2 R

Lynn Varner 3-3, 2 R

Katelyn Reynolds 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI

Morgan Whitaker 2 RBI

Hillary Huffer 2 RBI

Harrison

Alyssa Ross 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI

Reagan Williamson 2-3, 2B

Sami Wilkins 2-4

Grace Young 2B

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

Batting Average: Katelyn Reynolds (.464), Sydnee Harris (.444), Lynn Varner (.375)

Slugging Percentage: Katelyn Reynolds (.643), Sydnee Harris (.481), Kyrsten Brown (.429)

On Base Percentage: Sydnee Harris (.559), Katelyn Reynolds (.500), Lynn Varner (.467)

Runs Scored: Olivia Craycraft (10), Sydnee Harris (9), Morgan Whitaker (7)

Hits: Katelyn Reynolds (13), Sydnee Harris (12), Olivia Craycraft/Lynn Varner (9)

RBI: Katelyn Reynolds (12), Lynn Varner (8), Emily Allphin/Morgan Whitaker (6)

Doubles: Emily Allphin/Sam Boothy/Katelyn Reynolds (3)

Triples: Katelyn Reynolds (1)

Home Runs: None

Walks: Sydnee Harris (6), Sam Boothby/Katelyn Reynolds (4)

Stolen Bases: Olivia Craycraft/Sydnee Harris (2)

Wins: Hillary Huffer (3), Emily Allphin (2)

Saves: None

ERA: Hillary Huffer (3.36), Emily Allphin (5.833), Sam Boothby (6.00)

Innings: Hillary Huffer (33.1), Emily Allphin (18.0), Sam Boothby (4.2)

Opponents Batting Average: Hillary Huffer (.298), Emily Allphin (.352), Sam Boothby (.370)

Strikeouts: Hillary Huffer (18), Emily Allphin (6), Sam Boothby (3)

INSIDE THE ECC: Kings and Loveland have each won their first two conference games to take the early edge in a rain-shortened start to the 2018 season. Milford and West Clermont are each 1-0. The schedule for ECC conference games this week includes: Monday-Loveland at Milford, Walnut Hills at Withrow, West Clermont at Turpin and Kings at Anderson; Tuesday-Milford at Loveland; West Clermont at Walnut Hills; Wednesday-West Clermont at Milford, Withrow at Anderson, Kings at Loveland and Walnut Hills at Turpin; Friday-Milford at West Clermont, Turpin at Walnut Hills, Anderson at Withrow and Loveland at Kings.

POLL WATCH: Milford has climbed to fifth in the current Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, released on April 9. The battle at the top is a good one with four squads all earning multiple No. 1 votes. Mason retains the No. 1 position with three first place votes, despite a Sunday loss to second-ranked Lebanon (eight first place votes). Lakota East and Lakota West, each with two first place votes complete the rankings in front of the Eagles. The ECC is also represented by West Clermont in eighth with Kings and Anderson each receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.