By Mike Varner
Regional Correspondent

LIBERTY TWP, OH – On a cold, windy, and rainy night, the No. 4 seeded Milford Eagles (21-6) faced their rival, the No. 19 seeded Turpin Spartans (13-15).

Milford senior RHP Zach Cook (Winthrop recruit), who was 6-1 on the season, faced Turpin senior RHP Ryan Flynn, who held a 5-4 record on the mound. The pitcher’s styles couldn’t be any different as Cook relies on a fastball that reaches up to 90 mph to set up his breaking ball, and Flynn uses his curveball to set up his fastball.

In the first inning, Turpin third baseman Derek Varner (3 for 4 with an RBI) singled home senior outfielder Hunder Sadlon, who had walked, to give Turpin an early lead.

Milford came right back in the bottom of the inning as junior first baseman Ty Helton doubled home senior outfielder Joe Zurschmeide and senior outfielder Cole Eckelman followed with a single to score Helton.

In the second inning, Milford struck for 5 runs off Flynn, who battled control problems in his one plus innings of work. Junior short stop Andrew Minton doubled with the bases loaded plating two runners. After another walk to Zurschmeide, Helton added his second double of the day to bring home two more runs.

In the third inning, Cook gave up three straight singles to begin the inning. After a visit to the mound by Coach Kilgore, Cook proceeded to retire the next three batters on strikeouts.

Milford added three more runs in the bottom half of the inning with Minton singling in his third run of the game. With the bases loaded once again, Milford was poised to add to their 11-1 advantage.  Senior third baseman Zach Henning grounded sharply to the shortstop, who threw to the plate to force out Helton. But, in the process, Helton was ejected from the game after illegal contact after sliding into Turpin junior catcher Nick Lubanski.

After the controversial play at the plate, Turpin looked to seize the momentum at the plate. Lubanski (3 for 5 with 4 RBI) delivered with a two RBI single. After adding four runs, Turpin forced Milford to change pitchers as Cook’s day ended.

Unshaken, Milford came back with four more runs of their own as senior designated hitter Austin Walker singled home two  runs to put the score at 15-5.

Not letting down, Turpin added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning as Lubanski doubled, scoring two more runs.

Turpin’s Bobby Calder hit a double in the sixth inning, his fifth hit of the game and second double of day, but it was all the offense the Spartans could muster with their at bats of the game.

Unlike previous innings, the sixth and the seventh innings featured scoreless frames as Milford closed the door and moves on to face the state’s No. 1 ranked team, the Mason Comets.

To view scouting notes from games across Ohio, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week. 

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