Player of the Game

Posted by Beacon Journal sportswriter Nate Ulrich

BASEBALL 

Canton Division I District Final

Lake 4, Green 1

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Lake senior pitcher Todd Miller

Miller, a right-hander, allowed just one run and three hits en route to his second complete-game victory of the postseason. He walked three and struck out three in seven innings of work to lead Lake (18-9) to its first district championship since 1977 and just its second in school history.

 Miller, who improved his record to 6-3, said he feels that the playoff atmosphere has motivated him to elevate his game.

"The adrenaline definitely gets pumping," Miller said. "You just want to keep playing as long as you can. And being a senior, it means a lot."

Lake coach Bud Householder said Miller has been clutch in the postseason. His other complete-game win was a 2-0 victory over Massillon in a sectional final.

"He's been gutsy for us all tournament," Householder said of Miller. "He's effective. He works ahead in the count. He's got a good, low breaking ball that keeps kids off balance. The kid is pretty much a little bulldog. I can't express how hard our pitchers have worked to get us where we are at."

Miller also had an RBI sacrifice hit in the second inning to give the Blue Streaks a 1-0 lead.