Yesterday, pitcher Hannah Miller was named as one of the Top 30 players in the 2029 Line Drive HOT 100 player rankings.

Her ranking talks about the athlete’s success on the field but also in the classroom.

T-26—Hannah Miller, P, Ohio Outlaws Premier 2K11 – Murhahan
Hannah is a two-way standout who has been a USA All-American representing Region 2 and was also a USSSA All American Direct Invite. From Danville, W.V., she had an ERA of 1.26 last year with 115 K’s and hit a solid .493 last Summer. With a fastball consistently hitting 60 mph, a changeup between 46-48 mph, and a nasty curveball, Hanna has shined with the Outlaws team playing a tough schedule and one loaded with PGF tournaments. Hannah not only excelled in softball, she also maintained a 4.0 GPA as an honor roll student, broke her Madison Middle School’s record in the spelling bee, and was a member of the Game Changer initiative for youths in West Virginia helping to mentor elementary students. When not on the softball field or at school she spends her free time working with Sammy Seabok at Iron Saints Gym in Logan, WV. In the short amount of time she has been there, Hannah has dropped her home-to-first times by 0.5 seconds, her 40 yard times by a full second, and her 5-10-5 shuttle in a sub-5 seconds time. Head Coach JC Murhahan concludes: “Hannah is no stranger to hard work and doesn’t take any days off. It is always about getting better as a person, leader, teammate, and player.”

Here’s a test to see if you caught the unique activity Hannah competes in… do you know what it is?

For those reading closely, the middle schooler is an outstanding pitcher and hitter in club softball play, but she is also a record-setter in the spelling bee!

JC Murnahan, the Head Coach of the Ohio Outlaws Premier 2K11 14U team, shares his thoughts about her talents outdoors… and in front of people who test her spelling capabilities:

“Watching Hannah pitch,” Coach JC begins, “you would think the only letter she knows is “K” but you would be wrong.”

“Not only is she a champion in the circle on the softball field but she’s also a spelling bee champ!

“Hannah truly is a student athlete, excelling in the classroom as well as on the softball diamond.  She is the Greg Maddux of 14U Fastpitch, bringing a cerebral approach to pitching, using her elite spin, elite accuracy and blazing speed to carve up batter after batter.”

“When Hannah isn’t in the circle, she’s using her elite speed to track down fly balls in centerfield and dares runners to test her rocket arm.  She also swings a big stick with lots of power and a high batting average, she truly is a complete hitter.”

“She is the definition of a team player that will do anything the team needs!”

Line Drive’s Brentt Eads recently caught up with the young athlete from West Virginia to get her thoughts on the sport she loves… and the nerve-racking activity she likes to do in the classroom (think S-p-e-l-l-i-n-g  B-e-e!)

****

Line Drive’s Q&A With Hannah Miller…

Line Drive Softball: Do you remember the first spelling event you ever did and what some of your words were?
Hannah Miller: I do remember my first event and I was nothing short of nervous. There were about 25 of us in the room we were competing in, not including the audience. I don’t know if maybe it was just me but the room, we were in was so hot and stuffy. The one word I remember is “magnolia.” The reason I remember it so well is because I completely blanked when I had to go and spell it. I end up taking a few deep breaths, then hoping and praying the way I spelt it was right.

LDS: What’s more pressure: standing at the plate with a 2-strike count or standing at a microphone and having to spell?
HM: In my opinion I think that standing at the plate with a 2-strike count is more pressure. I feel like this because spelling and school has always come natural for me. I have always been able to handle pressure in the classroom or in school related settings slightly better than on the field.

LDS: How do you study for a spelling bee?
HM: The main way I study for a spelling bee is writing the word multiple times at each study session. After I have 20-25 words completely memorized, I would put them on flash cards and have them read off for me to spell. It is also important to know the definition of a word, especially if it is a homophone. Asking for a definition in a spelling bee can also give you time to think about the word and calm yourself before spelling it. Plus, it is a great way to build your vocabulary!

LDS: Do you have an advantage with a great memory? Or is it just that you are well read?
HM: think that I have a slight advantage with my memory but not a big one. When it comes to schoolwork, I remember things well but outside of that I tend to be forgetful. In general,
what I think gives me the biggest advantage is where I love to read.

LDS: Any idea what you’d like to study in college and/or do for a career?
HM: I’m not dead set on my decision but I have always leaned towards Sonography. If that doesn’t work out, I am also interested in getting a degree in Physical Therapy and opening a gym to give athletes like me more opportunities. I know from experience how hard it can be to find a suitable place for female athletes to feel comfortable and excel in their training. I was fortunate to find a great gym in southern West Virginia called Iron Saints where I train with Sammy Sebok.

LDS: What’s life like in Danville, West Virginia?
HM: Life in Danville, West Virginia is pretty quiet. The town of Danville is relatively small. In the winter there isn’t much to do but it’s completely different in summer. In summer we have a local water park called Waterways that I like to swim at, or you can go trail riding, canoeing, and kayaking in the local rivers. A lot of people my age including myself like to walk around the town, drop into local stores to shop, or just hang out with friends. It’s a small town but you can surely find things to do.

LDS: Is it hard being from West Virginia to be “seen” or does playing for the Ohio Outlaws organizations and Coach JC Murnahan help in that regard?
HM: It is harder to be seen coming from West Virginia. Where I’m from there aren’t many opportunities that are close, so I am forever grateful for my Outlaw family and Coach JC. Since I joined this team in 2021, I have had many more doors open for me. Coach JC is like family and this will be my fifth season with him, and I hope to continue to grow and create new opportunities with him and my team. In the fall we will transition to TN Mojo Murnahan to better our exposure and open more opportunities for the team.

LDS: What are you most proud of: maintaining a 4.0 GPA or being ranked as a Top 35 player in your class?
HM: I am definitely most proud of being ranked as a Top 35 player in my class. I
have worked twice as hard to get to where I am in softball than I have in school.

LDS: Hitting versus pitching… which one comes easiest to you, and which one are you most proud of the progress you’ve made?
HM: I would have to say hitting has always come easier but I’m definitely proud of the progress I have made in pitching.

LDS: Tell us about the Game Changer initiative for youths where you’re helping to mentor elementary students in West Virginia?
HM: Gamechanger is a lighthouse for young elementary schoolers who are about to be in middle school. Every few months we will go to the elementary schools in our area and talk with them about the dangers of vaping, smoking, drinking, and other addictive substances. We also talked about how to deal with peer pressure and how to deal with stress. It also helps them to know someone they can talk to when moving to a new and stressful environment.

LDS: Bottom of the 7th and you are pitching… your team has a one run lead, but bases are loaded, two outs and a full count on the hitter. What’s going through your mind and what pitch do you throw?
HM: The first thing that goes through my head is to calm down and after that I tell myself to double down and close the door. I also like to have a positive affirmation before each big pitch. If there was one pitch, I would have to choose to throw I would have to go with is inside and on the hands. Hopefully I have set it up with a great change up outside or a filthy curveball on the prior pitch.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball