Slicers' Miller no longer flying under radar

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George Selkirk batted over .300 five times, drove in more than 100 runs twice, played on five world championship teams and was twice voted an American League All-Star.

Unfortunately, he was the fellow who replaced another left-handed hitting right fielder named George for the New York Yankees — Babe Ruth.

Matt Miller replaced last year’s state champ, Mike Fout, as LaPorte’s No. 1 cross country runner. LaPorte coach Tim Beres will be the first to say 2008 is Miller time.

“Matt kind of flew under the radar for much of his cross country career because of the quality of teammates he ran with his first three years,” says Beres.

“He was All-DAC his sophomore and junior years. I don’t think he had a bad meet this season. Matt can be his harshest critic. It’s been a great experience for me to watch him improve over the past four years.”

Miller pulled off the hat trick this year by winning the Chesterton Sectional (15.41), New Prairie Regional (15:46) and New Prairie Semistate (15:53). The LaPorte senior placed highest (eighth) of area runners at the state finals with a time of 15:46.

Although the state championship is behind him, Miller had a few more prestigious cross country races to compete in this month. He competed in the Mideast Meet in Kettering, Ohio on Saturday, and will enter the Footlocker in Kenosha, Wis., Nov. 29.

Miller also has been invited to check out Mississippi State later this month. He has already visited the University of Tennessee and Belmont University. All three are Division I schools.

And he still has track in the spring.

“I’m hoping to finish one, two or three in the 1,600 and or 3,200 at the regional level,” says Miller. “I feel like I can do better in the 3,200. My goal is 9:10.”

Make no mistake, Miller is as competitive as they come, but high school cross country was more to him than just racing.

“Twenty years from now, I’ll remember the team meals, hotels, and laughs with the guys more than the races,” muses Miller.

“But with that said, running in the state championship was great — to race against that kind of competition. And I’ll get to do it again at Mideast and Footlocker.”

He also will remember the man who timed him, sometimes shouted at him, and always encouraged him.

“I don’t know where I’d be if Coach Beres wasn’t by my side pushing me to train throughout the year.”