SETTING THE SCENE: After Mother Nature wreaked havoc on the first week of the season causing the cancellation of a trio of games, the Milford High School baseball team will attempt to return to the diamond this week with the start to Eastern Cincinnati Conference play dominating the slate. The Eagles split the two games they were able to get in last week, falling to area power St. Xavier and knocking off one of the top smaller division schools in Madeira. Milford’s pitching has been strong during the start to the season, posting a 1.00 ERA for the week.

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

• Wednesday, April 4 vs. Anderson {at Prasco Park}, 5:00 p.m. & Thursday, April 5 at Anderson, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: 1-0, 0-0 ECC (RV Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Junior Jack Crider & Senior Sam Priede (.500/0 XBH/0 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Senior Josh Rose (0.00 ERA/1-0 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2017; Anderson 10, Milford 9, Anderson 7, Milford 6 & Milford 8, Anderson 2
• Friday, April 6 at Loveland, 5:00 p.m.
  • 2018 Record: 2-3, 0-0 ECC (NR Division I area coaches’ weekly poll)
  • Top Hitter: Junior Tripp Willis (.556/1 XBH/3 RBI/0 SB)
  • Top Returning Pitcher: Junior Tripp Willis (0.00 ERA/1-0 record)
  • Last Meeting: 2017; Loveland 4, Milford 3 & Loveland 7, Milford 4
• Saturday, April 7 vs. Clio (MI), 11:00 a.m.
  • 2018 Record: N/A
  • Top Hitter: N/A
  • Top Pitcher: N/A
  • Last Meeting: 2017; Milford 10, Clio 0 & Milford 12, Clio 0

A LOOK BACK: March 26 at Milford: St. Xavier 2, Milford 1

GAME REWIND

A fierce pitcher’s battle that featured just seven total hits saw St. Xavier push across the winning run in the top of the fifth inning for a 2-1 season-opening win over Milford. The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the second when junior Anthony Bassano doubled home classmate Cameron Hemmert. The Bombers scratched across the tying run in the top of the third, then went ahead to stay when Nathan Kappers singled home Tucker Hundley against Eagle reliever Tyler Barter.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 0-1; St. Xavier: 1-0

WP: Wyatt Hudephol; LP: Tyler Barter; Save: Drew Klare

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Anthony Bassano 2B, RBI

St. Xavier

Tucker Hundley 2-3, 2B, R

Hank Thomas 2B

Wyatt Hudepohl 4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 SO

March 27 at Milford: Milford 7, Madeira 1

GAME REWIND

Milford scored five times in the second inning to chase Madeira starting pitcher Patrick Hatcher as the Eagles rolled to a 7-1 win. Anthony Bassano provided the big hit of the inning with a one out, two-run home run, while Mitch Mierke, Calvin Hunter and Cameron Hemmert all drove in runs in the frame. On the hill, junior Calvin Hunter was dealing, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out six in five shutout innings.

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 1-1; Madeira: 0-2

WP: Calvin Hunter; LP: Patrick Thatcher; Save: None

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Cameron Hemmert 2-3, 3 RBI

Anthony Bassano HR, 2 RBI

Calvin Hunter 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 SO

Madeira

Matt Megois 1-3, R

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

Batting Average: Anthony Bassano (.500), Cameron Hemmert/Dylan Stewart (.400)

Slugging Percentage: Anthony Bassano (1.500), Cameron Hemmert/Dylan Stewart (.400)

On Base Percentage: Anthony Bassano (.600), Cameron Hemmert/Dylan Stewart (.571)

Runs Scored: Cameron Hemmert/Dylan Stewart (2), Four Tied (1)

Hits: Anthony Bassano/Cameron Hemmert/Dylan Stewart (2)

RBI: Anthony Bassano/Cameron Hemmert (3), Calvin Hunter/Mitch Mierke (1)

Doubles: Anthony Bassano (1)

Triples: None

Home Runs: Anthony Bassano (1)

Walks: Cameron Hemmert/Calvin Hunter (2), Five Tied (1)

Stolen Bases: Mitch Mierke/Brady Sluder (1)

Wins: Calvin Hunter (1)

Saves: None

ERA: Calvin Hunter (0.00), Evan Baugh (1.75)

Innings: Calvin Hunter (5.0), Evan Baugh (4.0), Five Tied (1.0)

Opponents Batting Average: Calvin Hunter (.063), Evan Baugh (.154)

Strikeouts: Calvin Hunter (6), Evan Baugh (3), Zach Byron (2)

INSIDE THE ECC: The battle to unseat Loveland as the ECC Champions begins with the start to league action this week. The schedule for ECC conference games this week includes: Monday-Milford at Anderson, Walnut Hills at West Clermont, Kings at Withrow and Loveland at Turpin; Wednesday-Anderson at Milford, West Clermont at Walnut Hills, Turpin at Loveland and Withrow at Kings; Friday-Milford at Loveland, Turpin at West Clermont, Withrow at Walnut Hills and Kings at Anderson.

POLL WATCH: Milford is ranked seventh in the current Division I area coaches’ poll, released on March 26 by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mason is the favorite of the 13 voting coaches, earning seven top nods. Second place Moeller earned four, with the balance of the top-five featuring Lakota West (one vote), St. Xavier and the ECC’s West Clermont (one vote). In the others receiving votes section, Kings and Anderson from the ECC are among others receiving votes. The coaches’ poll is released every Monday at Noon at preps.cincinnati.com/coachespolls.

COLLEGE BOUND EAGLES: A trio of seniors on the 2018 Eagles’ roster have already announced their intention to continue their athletic and academic careers on the collegiate level. Twin brothers Alex and Dan Lutz are headed to Thiel College, while Mitch Mierke will take his talents to Thomas More College.