Miller pitches his way out of doghouse
JEFFERSON TWP — Gavin Miller had something to prove.
Not to himself, but to his Saxonburg Legion baseball teammates.
In the opening round of the playoffs Saturday, Miller attended the Zac Brown Band concert in Pittsburgh instead.
Saxonburg won that game against Center Township without Miller to set up a clash against Slippery Rock in the second round at Laura Doerr Park Tuesday evening.
Miller was there this time and pitched five shutout innings in an 8-0 win over Slippery Rock.
“Gavin, he was in the doghouse coming into the game,” said Saxonburg manager Mike Hickey. “He ... left us with nine players (Saturday). But, we put that behind us and he assured me he'd mow them down.”
Miller did just that, striking out four and giving up just two hits in handcuffing one of the best lineups in the league.
“My hat's off to Miller,” said Slippery Rock coach Jason Bennett. “He pitched an excellent game. We were just cold tonight.”
Miller smiled when asked about his trip to a concert instead of the ballpark on Saturday.
“I needed to redeem myself and show these guys I'm a real player and deserve to be here,” Miller said. “I kind of let them down a little bit.”
Miller's offense didn't let him down.
Saxonburg (16-6) scored three runs on three consecutive singles by the bottom third of the order against Slippery Rock pitcher Joe Barnhart to take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Saxonburg extended the lead to 5-0 thanks to a RBI double off the foot of Barnhart and a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Hickey that plated a run.
The game was broken wide open in the bottom of the fifth inning when Saxoburg scored three more runs. Miller had a RBI triple in the frame.Taylor Sharer pitched the final two innings for Saxonburg.“It's tough to make the order up because one through nine, they all swing the bat and put the ball in play,” Mike Hickey said. “That's what we teach them. Put the ball in play and good things will happen.”Slippery Rock still believes good things will happen in this double-elimination tournament.While Saxonburg is just one win away from playing for a Legion title, Slippery Rock will have to take the long road through the loser's bracket.“I'm 100 percent confident we can come back and win this tournament,” Bennett said.“The way these guys hit on my team,” Bennett added, “I think we're going to send some people home.”Slippery Rock 000 000 0 — 0 3 3Saxonburg 030 230 x — 8 9 1W: Gavin Miller 5IP (4K, 0BB). L: Joe Barnhart 6IP (3K, 1BB).Slippery Rock (16-6): Ryan Lauster 1B, Matt Badger 2-1BSaxonburg (16-6): Hyte Eurich 1B, Joel Zacherl 1B 2B, Gavin Miller 3B RBI, Spencer Coltz RBI, Jordan Hickey RBI, Caleb Thorn 2-1B RBI, Zach Junk 1B RBI, Shawn Daugherty 2B 1B 2-RBIThursday: Saxonburg vs. East Butler-Meridian winner, TBD; Slippery Rock vs. lowest remaining seed in loser's bracket, TBD
