Pitching grows on Loyola's Miller

Devin Miller’s introduction to softball was not a happy one.

"I got a phone call from one of the ladies who ran the [local youth league]," said Miller, now a senior at Loyola. "She said, ‘Your dad’s coaching softball and you’re playing.’

"I said, "No, I’m not.'"

A few pleas and a few tears didn’t change John Miller’s plan for his daughter. A dozen years later, opposing hitters are more likely to cry at the thought of facing the Ramblers ace.

Miller, who has signed with UIC, has put up some monster numbers against a killer schedule in leading Loyola to the state semifinals for the first time in program history.

Heading into the Class 4A semifinals, Miller was 26-2 with a 0.67 ERA, 18 shutouts and 350 strikeouts — against just 19 walks — in 189 innings. She then pitched Loyola into the state championship game with an eight-inning perfect game Friday against Fremd.

Oh, and she’s batting .289 with two homers and 18 RBI. For all of this, Miller is the Sun-Times Player of the Year.

"She’s special in a lot of ways," Loyola coach Marty Jennings said. "I’m just totally impressed how her leadership has grown by leaps and bounds in the last year.

"She’s really taken this team. ... and said, ‘Girls, I’m going to play at a high level, and I want you to come with me.'"

Miller and the Ramblers had to dial it up against a schedule that featured powers such as Barrington and Sandburg (the two teams to beat Loyola in the regular season), as well as Lockport, Edwardsville, New Trier, Resurrection and Mother McAuley.

The Ramblers came from behind twice to beat Lockport 3-2 in 13 innings and also went extra innings to edge Edwardsville 2-1.

One key to Miller’s success, according to Jennings, is her willingness to do anything he has asked of her.

"I don’t think she missed a day [of offseason workouts]," Jennings said. "We lifted and ran two to three times a week before our season started. If she had to miss [because of] a conflict, she went in on her free period and lifted."

And now Miller is lifting Loyola softball to new heights.