Highland’s Miller selected 3rd team All-American

WEST BURLINGTON — The National Junior College Athletic Association released its All-American softball teams Wednesday, and it may have taken a second look for casual Huskies fan to recognize a Highland graduate that plays for the Southeastern Community College Black Hawks.

Abigayle Miller was the third team designated on the NJCAA Division I All-America team.

“I was really shocked when the coach texted me and told me I was an All-American,” said Abbie Miller, a 2019 graduate of Highland High School in Riverside. “I was really not expecting it because I kind of had a slump at the end of the year.”

Miller, a sophomore at SCC, had 10 home runs and 15 doubles and finished the year with a .376 batting average. Her on-base percentage was right at .400 and the slugging percentage was .636. She batted in 47 runs.

Miller had five errors in 167 chances for a .978 fielding percentage as the Black Hawks were 31-26.

“My average was way over .400 and then the slump the last few weeks of the season really brought it down,” Miller said.

Miller already has her future plans in place, and they do not include continuing to play collegiate softball. With there not being a season last year, this was Miller’s equivalent of a farewell tour, but what a successful one. Miller is going into a radiology program that is very intensive.

Maybe knowing she is an All-American, she would reconsider?

“I had no intention of playing beyond this year and no schools have shown a lot of interest,” Miller said. “I love the game, I love playing, but the radiology program is 80 credit hours in a short time.”

Miller is at the point in life where future plans are more important than games in the present.

She is transitioning to life without softball playing by making sure there is life with softball coaching.

“I have been helping with the junior high kids at Highland, and it has been a lot of fun,” Miller said. “I didn’t think I would like coaching, but now I know I’m going to keep coaching forever.”

Some lucky kids will get to learn from an All-American.