SETTING THE SCENE: The 2016 Eastern Cincinnati Conference Softball Championship is within reach for Milford as the Eagles begin this week within one victory of sealing the crown. Milford is 12-0 in league play this year and with a win over Kings in one of two match-ups this week will hand the Eagles a third straight league championship. The Eagles are 16-2 overall on the year.

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

• Monday, May 2 vs. Kings, 4:30 p.m. & Wednesday, May 4 at Kings, 4:30 p.m.
  • 2016 Record: 12-7, 9-1 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Senior Abbie Campbell (.463/6 XBH/13 RBI/1 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Junior Laurel Smithson (1.28 ERA/8-5 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2015; Milford 3, Kings 1 & Milford 6, Kings 1
• Thursday, May 5 vs. Mason, 4:30 p.m.
  • 2016 Record: 18-0, 15-0 GGCL (1^st Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Sophomore Elana Harrison (.660/9 XBH/29 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Junior Elle Buffenbarger (1.02 ERA/13-0 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2015; Mason 2, Milford 1
• Saturday, May 7 at Northmont, 10:00 a.m.
  • 2016 Record: 17-3, 7-1 GWOC
  • Top Hitter: Senior Whitney Fiedler (.492/10 XBH/35 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Pitcher: Senior Mallory Woods (2.15 ERA/8-2 record/2 SV)
  • Last Meeting: 2015; Milford 2, Northmont 1 & Northmont 6, Milford 4

LOOK April 25 at Turpin: Milford was able to overcome five errors on defense, winning a wild 5-4, nine inning contest at Turpin on April 25. After jumping ahead with three runs in the top of the first, Milford saw the Spartans score twice in the four and the tying run in the sixth to force extras. In the top of the ninth, a two-run double by freshman Katelyn Reynolds pushed the Eagles in front for good. Turpin did score once in the bottom of the ninth before Valerie Thompson induced a game-ending fly out with runners on second and third. Thompson helped herself at the plate with two hits and two RBI, while Kelly Noll went 2-for-4 with two runs. 

Mount The Eagles picked up a huge late season, non-conference win with a 9-0 shutout of Mount Notre Dame on April 28. Valerie Thompson’s stellar season in the circle continued as the junior southpaw yielded just one hit over seven shutout frames, while striking out six. Kelsey Seitz led the offense, going 2-for-3, including a double, while adding two runs and three RBI. Katelyn Reynolds also added her first career home run. 

April 29 at Withrow: Milford overwhelmed Withrow with 13 first inning runs, securing a 20-0 win over the Tigers in game one on April 29. In addition to the offensive exploits, freshman Reilly Edwards earned her first career victory in memorable fashion, holding the Tigers without a hit, while striking out seven and walking one in five shutout innings. Kelsey Seitz paced the offense with five hits, five RBI and three runs scored, while Katelyn Rheude had a double and a triple, driving in four. Other offensive heroes for the Eagles included Katelyn Reynolds, who had two doubles among four hits, along with Kelly Carraro and Edwards with three hits each. The second game was awarded to Milford by a 1-0 score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: A look at Milford’s statistical leaders through 18 games:

Batting Average: Kelsey Seitz (.676), Katelyn Reynolds (.536), Kelly Noll (.500)

Slugging Percentage: Kelsey Seitz (.973), Katelyn Reynolds (.821), Katelyn Rheude (.635)

On Base Percentage: Kelsey Seitz (.714), Katelyn Reynolds (.603), Kelly Noll (.571)

Runs Scored: Kelly Noll/Katelyn Reynolds (28), Katelyn Rheude (24)

Hits: Katelyn Reynolds (30), Kelly Noll (26), Kelsey Seitz (25)

RBI: Kelsey Seitz (24), Katelyn Reynolds/Katelyn Rheude (20)

Doubles: Katelyn Reynolds (9), Kelsey Seitz (7), Katelyn Rheude (5)

Triples: Katelyn Rheude (3), Katelyn Reynolds/Kelsey Seitz (2)

Home Runs: Katelyn Reynolds/Hannah White (1)

Walks: Katelyn Reynolds (10), Hannah White (9), Kelly Noll (8)

Stolen Bases: Kelly Noll (10), Kelsey Seitz (7), Katelyn Reynolds (6)

Wins: Valerie Thompson (14), Reilly Edwards (1)

Saves: None

ERA: Valerie Thompson (0.86), Reilly Edwards (3.39)

Innings: Valerie Thompson (97.2), Reilly Edwards (10.1)

Opponents Batting Average: Valerie Thompson (.149), Reilly Edwards (.194)

Strikeouts: Valerie Thompson (106), Reilly Edwards (10)

INSIDE THE ECC: Milford’s third straight Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship is within reach as the Eagles start the week at 12-0 in league play. Kings (9-1) and Turpin (9-2) remain alive but will need two Milford losses to stake a claim at the crown. The schedule of ECC conference games this week includes: Monday-Turpin at Withrow, Glen Este at Loveland, Kings at Milford, Anderson at Walnut Hills; Tuesday-Kings at Turpin, Glen Este at Anderson, Kings at Loveland; Wednesday-Withrow at Turpin, Loveland at Glen Este, Walnut Hills at Anderson, Milford at Kings.

POLL WATCH: Milford earned the No. 3 position in the final Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll for this season, released on May 2. The Eagles also received one first place vote and finished behind champion Mason (13 No. 1 votes) and Lakota East (one vote). Lebanon and Oak Hills (one vote) round out the top-five. The ECC was also represented by Kings in 10^th and Walnut Hills and Turpin in the others receiving votes category. The final coaches’ poll can be viewed at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.