3.18 ERA for the sectional-champion Highlanders. Over 119 innings, the right-hander allowed 63 runs( 54 earned) on 84 hits while walking 51 and striking out 188.
In her repertoire, Miller makes batters swing and miss with a rise-ball, changeup and curveball. Her favorite is her curveball, which breaks out if the batter is right-handed and in if the hitter is left-handed.
To help her pitching, Miller utilizes PlyoCare Balls and adds different weights. She also adds in bullpen sessions and drills to increase her velocity and spin rate.
“ Pitching is such a repetition-focused aspect,” said Steve Isaacs, who is in his first year as the Floyd Central pitching coach.“ A lot of these kids, as they have played throughout the years, they have enjoyed pitching and decided to be a pitcher. But it means they have to give up other parts of the game because it requires so much time. It’ s a game within a game in a lot of ways. But they’ re all different in a lot of ways and they have their own strengths that makes them good at pitching, whether that’ s different types of athleticism, body types or pitches they throw.”
Silver Creek senior Tessa Gibson began pitching when she was about 10 years ago. She too was inspired by a college pitcher. In her case it was Florida State’ s Meghan King.
“ I was 7 or 8 when I watched her pitch. Just seeing her in the College World Series out there, I thought:‘ That would be fun to do.’ And I picked it up,” Gibson recalled.“ I also wanted to be different from my sisters, because they both played in the field.”
As a junior, the left-hander went 10-1 with a 1.98 ERA for the sectionaland regional-champion Dragons. Over 95 2 / 3 innings, Gibson allowed 31 runs( 27 earned) on 61 hits while walking 46 and fanning 155.
Gibson said one of her favorite pitches is her changeup.
IU Southeast’ s Hallie Foley, a Silver Creek graduate, prepares to deliver a pitch to the plate during a game last season. She has pitched two years for the Grenadiers in 29 games. She has an 8-7 overall record, struck out 59 batters and has a 3.34 earned-run average.
MAY / JUNE 2025 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE NO. 9