Miller makes his job seem easy at Depew

DEPEW - Joe Miller makes his job as the Depew baseball team’s leadoff hitter seem easy. Figure out a way to get to first base and set the table for the heart of the Wildcats’ batting order.

“I’m doing my best to keep hitting,” Miller said. “With a bunch of good guys behind me, I just need to get on base. Let them do the hitting and I’ll run around.”

He’s certain done his part, reaching base in 15 of 28 plate appearances in the Wildcats’ first seven games. Miller is already enjoying a strong senior season. He leads the team in hits (10), batting average (.435) and on-base percentage (.536) and ranks second in runs (7) and stolen bases (6).

His biggest hit of the season came in an April showdown against Maryvale. After the Flyers had scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to tie an ECIC-III showdown, Miller stepped to the plate with two men on and one out.

He lined a base hit down the left field line for the winning run.

“I was just trying to get on base, get the runners over,” Miller said. “But I got a good pitch to hit. It’s a great feeling.”

It was also a bit of redemption for Miller, who had made an error earlier in the game that led a run for Maryvale. But the senior shook it off and waited for his chance to make it up.

“He made a mistake early and cost us a run, but he didn’t let it beat him,” coach Robert Parry said. “He got an opportunity to win the game and he took advantage.”

Miller’s been helping the Wildcats win games for years in a variety of venues.

As a running back, he earned all-state fourth-team honors and helped Depew to the Section VI championship game. In his two years as a starter, Depew was 16-3 on the football field.

And that will be his future sport as well. Miller will play football next season for Mount Union, a Division III powerhouse from Ohio.

But now’s the time for baseball. He’s still got some time left in his high school tenure and he’s hoping to go out as a champion on the diamond – and with a little improvement, he thinks his Wildcats can get that done.

“We’re doing alright, but we can be better,” he said. “We’ve let too many close games get away and we have to do a lot better on defense.”