Meadow Heights' Miller signs to play collegiately with Crowley's Ridge

Hayes Miller, a senior at Meadow Heights High School, signed a letter of intent Nov. 15 with Crowley’s Ridge College.

“It’s a good place, a good environment,” he said. “I like the coaches, they’re all really nice down there.”

It didn’t hurt that a former Meadow Heights player, Cade Lindgren, also attends Crowley’s Ridge.

Miller has been playing baseball for many years.

“Basically, my whole life,” he said. “Ever since I could play tee-ball I’ve been playing.”

Joining him at the Nov. 15 signing were his parents, Jeri and David Miller of Sedgewickville, as well as his sister, Harper, and teammates and coaches from Meadow Heights.

Crowley's Ridge College is located in Paragould, Arkansas.

Last spring, as a junior, Miller posted a 2.37 earned run average and struck out 32 in 38 innings.

Miller said he appreciates the team aspect of the game.

“Just hanging out with the guys, all the team spirit and camaraderie,” he said.

In addition to pitching, Miller, a left-hander, also plays first base.

He is grateful to continue to play the game he enjoys.

“It means a lot to me,” Miller said. “I feel like God has really blessed me with this opportunity.”

Miller plans to major in athletic training and is hoping to be an athletic trainer upon graduating

There’s still baseball next spring at Meadow Heights, and with that are team goals to accomplish.

“A district championship, getting to state, having a good run with these guys,” Miller said.

Tray Malone, head baseball coach at Crowley’s Ridge, spoke about the addition of Miller and the challenges of playing collegiately.

“We like to add good, young talent,” Malone said. “He can pitch for us. We like get a mix of small school guys and try to bring in a bunch of (junior college) players.”

For those playing at the college level, Malone said it typically takes a deeper commitment.

“It’s more of just a devotion,” Malone said. “It’s not a job, but it’s closer to a job than it is in high school. It takes a little more effort because you have to be eligible in the classroom along with putting in the time for baseball.”

Malone’s squad, similar to area high schools, has a fall program.

“We’re going to try do a little bit more in the fall for next year, for now it’s just practice and about 20 scrimmages within our team,” Malone said.

Meadow Heights coach Cody Kennedy said Miller has worked hard to earn this future chance.

“I’m happy for him,” Kennedy said. “He’s put in a lot of work over the last four years that I’ve had him. I’m happy for him to have the opportunity to go and improve his academics and athletics at the next level.”

Practice for the 2025 high school season begins next March.

“He has put in a ton of work, especially the last two years,” Kennedy said. “We had a discussion a couple of years ago about things he had to work on and improve in order to get to this point and I’d say he’s taken that wholeheartedly and put in a 100% effort to reach those goals.”

Balancing the practice of developing skills for pitching is different than the skill set needed to improve a defensive position, such as first base, according to Kennedy.

“For us, this fall, we try and limit it,” Kennedy said. “We kind of focus on his bullpens and pitching. Defensively, he’s great. It just comes naturally for him a little bit. The hitting part becomes difficult to balance. It’s just getting back to the fundamentals and making sure everything is right from the ground up.”

On days Miller pitches, Kennedy said the primary focus is getting outs and putting the team in a position to succeed while the offense is secondary, according to Kennedy.

The fall season provides an opportunity to work on aspects of the game or perhaps different approaches to see if they are worth adding for the spring, Kennedy said.

“It’s more relaxed, more fun, it’s almost like a spring training,” Kennedy said. “We want to win but it’s more about building for the spring.”