Hempfield softball ace Riley Miller picks Kent State

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 | 9:36 PM

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Proximity to home had a little something to do with Riley Miller’s college decision.

The ace softball pitcher from Hempfield is not going to play in Pennsylvania, but she decided to work the outside corner.

Riley, a junior, announced Tuesday she has committed to Kent State in Portage County, Ohio.

The Golden Flashes play in the Mid-American Conference.

“I wanted a place that felt like home, with welcoming teammates, and a big thing for me was my parents still being able to come watch me play,” Miller said.

Miller also considered offers from Monmouth and Robert Morris.

The TribLive Westmoreland player of the year pitched Hempfield to its eighth WPIAL title and a PIAA runner-up finish last spring, going 19-4 with a 1.25 ERA and 175 strikeouts in 140 innings.

“I am super excited knowing I’ll be pitching at the D-1 level,” Miller said. “Knowing all my work since I was younger has paid off, and I will be able to live out my childhood dream.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Hempfield