MADISON TWP. — The dugout fence rattled somewhere between home plate and the first-base line, while the Madison High School baseball team chanted “milk ‘em!”
Isaac Higgs and Brandon Ashley were doused with water after they scored a pair of runs.
Born not on the field but during a game of Euchre at a teammate’s house, the celebration has turned into a symbol of something bigger — a program loosening up, growing closer and, most importantly, winning again.
“We learned that over at our buddy’s house,” said Ashley, a junior. “We were playing Euchre, just messing around, and that’s where the ‘milk’ part came from.
The card games are just one example of how Madison players say they’ve connected off the field this season.
Mohawks first-year coach Tyler Gainey’s return to the program has the tone shifting — along with the results.
Madison sits at 10-4 overall and 5-2 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division, part of a three-way tie atop the standings. The Mohawks rattled off seven straight wins earlier this month, a stretch fueled by chemistry — and execution.
“Team camaraderie, man,” Gainey said. “I coached here before as an assistant, and I’ve never seen it like this. These guys are tight. They hang out outside of baseball. Whether it’s playing cards, just being around each other — that’s what you love to see.”
That looseness shows up in moments like the now-famous celebration, but it’s rooted in a deeper cultural shift.
Madison scored 107 runs through its first 14 games, hitting .304 as a team with a .452 on-base percentage. At the top of the order, junior Ashton Altman sets the tone with a .349 batting average, 17 runs and 11 stolen bases, while Ashley has a .400 average with 16 hits and 13 RBIs.
Ashley said the approach has been simple — and shared.
“Our top three just do their job,” Ashley said. “Ashton gets on, Isaac moves him, and either I bring him in or someone behind me does.
“It’s about being relaxed, not stressing, just doing your job for the team.”
That mindset helped power Madison’s early surge, including four league wins during the seven-game streak. But the Mohawks have had their tests.
A 6-4 loss at Dayton Christian and a lopsided 11-1 defeat against Brookville briefly halted momentum before a 14-0 bounce-back win over New Miami on Tuesday.
“We kind of got smacked in the mouth,” Gainey said. “But that response, that was a great team win. We had guys in different positions, some kids who haven’t played a lot, and they stepped up.”
Senior right-hander Owen King has anchored the pitching staff, going 4-1 with a 1.581 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 31 innings. Gainey said the transition from closer to starter has been seamless.
“He throws strikes, locates really well,” Gainey said. “He’s just a great kid, too. We’ve got a lot of those. That makes my job easier.”
Depth has also been a factor. Senior Grady Webb is 3-1 on the mound, while younger players continue to carve out roles. Junior Jacoby Riley is hitting .325 with 10 runs, sophomore Brody Coulter is hitting .368 with 12 RBIs, and sophomore Braylan Cockerham is hitting .364 with 10 runs.
The blend of experience and emerging talent has fueled a belief that this group can accomplish something meaningful.