Rochester’s speedy Miller signs with Taylor for softball

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Rochester senior Aubrey Miller signs with Taylor University to continue her softball and academic careers. From left – Todd Kline, Aubrey’s grandfather; Taylor Kline, Aubrey’s mother; Aubrey; Nancy Kline, Aubrey’s great grandmother; Jim Kline, Aubrey’s great grandfather. Jim Kline is a former basketball player at Western New Mexico University.

Because of her speed and ability to get on base, Aubrey Miller often winds up arriving at home.

Her softball recruiting experience was similar after she signed with Taylor University to continue her softball and academic careers.

In the end, she wanted to be close to home.

Grace Glidewell was hired last June as Taylor’s new coach. Her husband Matt will be the assistant coach.

Taylor is an NAIA school located in Upland.

“I love the campus and the coaches,” Miller said. “The coach is new. This is her first year. And she is a slapper, so I think I can relate to her. I like her.”

Miller initially committed to Gannon University in Erie, Pa., but she decommitted and reopened her recruitment.

“I went there for a weekend to make sure that’s where I wanted to go, and I realized it was too far from home, and it was very hard to tell the Gannon coaches,” Miller said. “It was very difficult, but I just had to be honest, and I feel a lot better after I did that.”

Miller is a left fielder known for her slap hitting skills and speed. Typically batting leadoff, she hit .409 last spring for the Three Rivers Conference and sectional champion Lady Zs. Her 38 stolen bases ranked fourth in the state.

Her speed might have made opponents jittery as she also reached on an error a team-high 11 times.

Miller said she has been playing softball since she was 5. Her aunt played travel softball, so she said she has been around the game since she was 2.

She said she started slapping when she was a freshman in high school to take advantage of her speed. That meant she became a left-handed hitter who immediately started moving as soon as her bat made contact with the ball. Moving your feet in the box before contact is a problem for right-handed hitters, but it is ideal for left-handed hitters.

“It was hard, but I think it came more naturally just because my feet were always moving,” Miller said. “I struggled to stay still.”

Miller plays for the Texas Glory 18-and-under Indiana travel team. Her Rochester teammates Bria Rensberger and Jordyn Hackworth are among her travel ball teammates as well. Travel ball gave her more opportunities to perfect her slapping technique.

“Travel ball, you see a lot of faster pitchers, so when I come to high school, it’s actually harder than travel because I think it’s easier to hit off faster than slower pitchers,” Miller explained. “Because you’re walking towards them. But travel has helped a tremendous amount.”

Miller also plays soccer in the fall and swims in the winter. She said both help in conditioning. She said soccer helps her “stay fast.”

Miller plans to major in early education. She wants to be a first grade teacher.

“I’m in a first grade classroom right now, and I really love it,” Miller said. “I don’t think I could do kindergarten. I could do second grade, but I’ve always worked in first grade, so I think it’s for me.”