News

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University baseball team has added another player to its roster for the 2004 season with the addition of Devin Miller.

Miller, a left-handed pitcher/first baseman from Nashport, Ohio, has decided to further his education and continue his baseball career at MVNU. As a senior at Tri-Valley High School, Miller posted a 7-3 record on the mound with a 2.83 earned run average and 76 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched with only 26 walks. At the plate, Miller also batted .410 with seven doubles, four home runs, and 25 runs batted in. He was a two-time All-Muskingum Valley League First Team selection and a three-time All-Eastern District pick, and he was the Most Valuable Player of the 2003 Eastern District East-West All-Star game. He was also an alternate for the Mizuno All-Ohio game.

"We see a lot of potential in Devin," said MVNU head coach Keith Veale. "We felt it was important to add someone from the left side of the mound to our pitching staff next year. Devin is not overpowering, but he has a real good idea of what he is doing on the mound. You can tell by his body language that he will compete hard and has the confidence to come right after hitters. He will have a great mentor with (2002 NAIA All-American left-handed pitcher) Adam Rowe returning, and that should really help him with his transition into the collegiate game."

"Devin also has a good bat and glove to compete at first base if those elements materialize during his career," Veale added. "He is an important recruit for us, and we are honored that he is attending MVNU beginning this fall."

In addition to excelling on the baseball field, Miller was also a four-year varsity letterman on the Tri-Valley golf team where he was a two-time All-Eastern District selection and an All-MVL pick in 2003.

"There are several reasons why I chose MVNU," said Miller. "It has a good baseball program, is close to home, and is a smaller school."

MVNU finished the season with a 27-19 overall record and won the American Mideast Conference North Division title. The Cougars also advanced to the championship game of the NAIA Region IX Tournament for the fourth straight year before finishing as the region runner-up.