May 15 vs. Ursuline: Milford 6, Ursuline 4

The Milford High School softball team opened a five-run lead, then held off a late comeback by Ursuline Academy to advance to the OHSAA District Finals courtesy of a 6-4 win on Monday. After being tabbed the No. 3 team in the state of Ohio earlier in the day, the Eagles backed it up with several timely hits and a strong pitching performance from Valerie Thompson.

With the win, Milford will now fight for a district championship for the second time in three years. The foe will be a familiar one as the Eagles will battle Lakota West, the only team from Ohio to best them during the regular season. The game is currently scheduled for 5 p.m. at Northmont High School north of Dayton, but could be changed based on graduation at West also on tap for Friday.

Sydnee Harris had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI to lead the offense. After allowing a first inning run, Thompson settled in, retiring 11 in a row at one point before running into some two-out trouble in the seventh.

After Ursuline got on the board first in the day’s opening frame, the Eagles came right back with a pair as Thompson helped herself with a two-run double. With Harris and Kelsey Seitz aboard, Thompson ripped a ball over the centerfield’s head plating both. The Eagles nearly extended the lead a run further on the next batter, but pinch runner Lilly Copp was cut down at the plate on a Katelyn Rheude single.

The Eagles stayed aggressive on the base paths in the second inning, but the aggressiveness cut short another rally. With two outs, Katie Hall nearly missed a homerun with a double off the fence in right center and came in to score when Harris singled to left, but the latter was thrown out trying to make it a double.

The Milford advantage grew to 4-1 in the fourth, this time when freshman Hillary Huffer lifted her second home run of the year to right center. The Eagles’ final two tallies came in the sixth, first thanks to more aggressive base running, this time by Rheude and later on a Harris’ run-scoring single.

Things got a little hairy with two out in the seventh as Ursuline put two runners on following a single and an error. The Lions’ Abby Elliott then drove a triple into right centerfield and ended up scoring when the relay throw to third went wild. But Thompson got the next hitter to hit a comebacker to end the game.

Overall	PCT
26 - 3	0.897

Milford Athletics

2016-2017 Varsity Softball

Mon, Mar 27 vs. Appleton High School (WI) W 8 - 4 ESPN Wide World of Sports

Wed, Mar 29 vs. Deerfield High School (IL) L 5 - 6 ESPN Wide World of Sports

Thu, Mar 30 vs. Badger High School (WI) W 13 - 1 ESPN Wide World of Sports

Sun, Apr 02 vs. Ursuline Academy W 3 - 1 P&G Cincinnati MLB Youth Academy--Field 4

Mon, Apr 03 Anderson High School W 10 - 1 Milford HS Main Gym

Wed, Apr 05 at Anderson High School W 18 - 3 Riverside Park

Fri, Apr 07 vs. Greenville High School W 6 - 3 Armco Park

Mon, Apr 10 at Loveland High School W 20 - 3 Loveland High School

Wed, Apr 12 at Glen Este High School W 15 - 0 Glen Este High School

Thu, Apr 13 Glen Este High School W 19 - 9 Milford HS Main Gym

Fri, Apr 14 Loveland High School W 5 - 1 Milford HS Main Gym

Sat, Apr 15 vs. Carlisle High School W 12 - 0 Wayne High School

Sat, Apr 15 at Wayne High School W 14 - 4 Wayne High School

Mon, Apr 17 Turpin High School W 7 - 4 Milford HS Main Gym

Wed, Apr 19 at Turpin High School W 3 - 2 Turpin High School

Thu, Apr 20 Mount Notre Dame High School W 12 - 0 Milford HS Main Gym

Fri, Apr 21 Walnut Hills High School W 20 - 3 Milford HS Main Gym

Mon, Apr 24 Walnut Hills High School W 12 - 0 Milford HS Main Gym

Tue, Apr 25 at Lakota West High School L 2 - 6 Lakota West High School

Wed, Apr 26 at Kings High School W 3 - 1 Kings High School

Fri, Apr 28 Kings High School W 6 - 2 Milford HS Main Gym

Sat, Apr 29 at Dixie Heights High School W 3 - 0 Dixie Heights High School

Mon, May 01 at Withrow High School W 17 - 0 Withrow High School

Mon, May 01 at Withrow High School W 11 - 0 Withrow High School

Tue, May 02 Western Brown High School W 3 - 1 Milford HS Main Gym

Wed, May 10 Walnut Hills High School OHSAA Tournament W 3 - 2 Milford HS Main Gym

Mon, May 15 vs. Ursuline Academy OHSAA Tournament W 6 - 4 Lebanon Junior High School

Wed, May 17 at Middletown Madison High School W 3 - 0 Middletown Madison High School

Sat, May 20 vs. Lakota West High School OHSAA Tournament L 6 - 7 Hamilton High School