Quiet Ace

SARASOTA — Cheyenne Miller has to keep her emotions in check.

As the No. 1 pitcher on the Sarasota Christian softball team, the sophomore has grown accustomed to holding the fate of her team in the palm of her right hand.

But it’s not her fastball, changeup or curve ball that propels her on the mound.

Rather, it’s her attitude and fun-loving approach to the game that has propelled the Lady Blazers to a 7-1 record so far this season.

“It’s just natural for me to not listen to others,” Miller says. “Pitching takes a lot of focus. I just try to keep the team upbeat and happy. I try to keep a positive attitude and not let things get me down.”

Miller dreamed of being a pitcher when she was younger, but when she learned she would be making her first varsity start on the mound in the eighth grade, she began to rethink her decision.

“I just didn’t like all the attention that comes with being on the mound,” says Miller. “It wasn’t my favorite spot because I was a young player on a varsity team.”

Miller ultimately stuck with the position, and she’s only continue to excel. Miller has a .167 earned run average so far this season, having only allowed eight runs over the course of 48 innings. She’s allowed 34 hits and 13 walks while striking out 48.

But, it’s not only what she can do on the mound that has her opponents talking this season. It’s also what she’s been able to do with her bat.

Miller is 15-for-27 with four home runs, six doubles and three walks. She has driven in 17 of the Lady Blazers’ 65 runs this season while also scoring 17 runs herself.

“I feel excited when I’m up at the plate,” Miller says. “I just want to hit a good hit. Hitting is my favorite part. It’s just the most fun for me.”

Miller had her most impressive performance at the plate March 18 versus St. Stephen’s when she went 4-for-4 with three two-run home runs and six RBIs to lead the Lady Blazers to a 7-3 win.

With each home run, Miller became more and more confident in her swing. Although she didn’t think the first one was going to make it over the fence, her excitement grew with the second and third home runs.

“I was kind of shocked,” says Miller, who hit three home runs in a game for the first time in her career. “I just felt really powerful, and I was like, ‘Holy cow! I just hit three home runs.’”

Miller followed up her multi-home run game with a home run, a double and four RBIs in Sarasota Christian’s 11-0 win over Bradenton Christian March 20. It was this time last year against Bradenton Christian that Miller launched her first career home run in front of her family and friends.

Sarasota Christian has five games remaining on the schedule before the start of the Class 2A-District 9 tournament, which begins April 15. The Lady Blazers held the edge over Southwest Florida Christian heading into their final district game April 1.

Last season, the Lady Blazers finished as the district runner-up before falling in the regional quarterfinals.

Now, with another year of experience under her belt, Miller is excited to see how far Sarasota Christian can make it this season.

“I just want to have fun and win as many as we can,” Miller says. “I just want everyone to be happy and excited and have fun.”

BY THE NUMBERS
7 - The number of wins Miller has posted on the mound this season.

48 - The number of strikeouts Miller has recorded in 48 innings of work.

3 - The number of two-run home runs Miller hit against St. Stephen’s March 18.

17 - The number of runs Miller has both scored and driven in through the first eight games of the season.

.556 - Miller’s batting average so far this season.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].