Glacier Peak pitcher Makayla Miller won the online voting in The Herald’s Athlete of the Month poll for April. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Glacier Peak pitcher Makayla Miller won the online voting in The Herald’s Athlete of the Month poll for April. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

April Athlete of the Month: Glacier Peak’s Makayla Miller

The Grizzlies’ two-way standout tossed a shutout and hit a walk-off home run in the same game.

Whether she was in the circle or at the plate, Glacier Peak High School softball standout Makayla Miller was primed to make an impact on the field any time a chance presented itself this season.

The senior two-way threat mashed 12 extra-base hits, including six home runs, while compiling a .525 batting average, a .568 on-base percentage and 1.125 slugging percentage. She also notched a 3.48 earned-run average over 54 innings pitched, striking out 66 batters and allowing 30 walks.

Miller’s efforts helped the Grizzlies earn a 10-3 record while facing a difficult schedule that included a pair of games against 11-2 Kamiak, 10-3 Jackson and traditional Class 3A power Snohomish.

Her impact for Glacier Peak was on full display during the week of April 26-May 2.

Miller went 9-for-9 over a three-game stretch with four doubles and two home runs, which included an epic performance against Cascade on April 28.

After striking out 12 batters over seven shutout innings, the Central Washington University signee stepped up to the plate with a runner on base in a game locked in a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning. Miller watched two pitches well out of the strike zone for balls and then redirected a 2-0 pitch over the outfield fence for a walk-off two-run home run.

“There has been so many times where I have thought about softball and why I still played,” Miller said. “I’ve had rough years in the past. It gets in your head. … Honestly, that game, I knew that was the world telling me, ‘This is why you’re playing. This is why you work so hard. This is proving your point on why you will go to college.’”

Miller’s spectacular week led to her winning The Herald’s Athlete of the Week poll for April 26-May-2. She went on to win The Herald’s Athlete of the Month voting for April.

We caught up with the Glacier Peak star to talk about her softball journey and the lasting bond the sport has created between Miller and her father, Fred.

Your junior season got wiped out because of the COVID-19 pandemic, how important was it to get one last season, albeit a short one, together with your high school teammates?

It was very important. Last year was hard. I grew up with a lot of the seniors last year. Not being able to play one last time with them just kind of opened my eyes and I just realized that this short season was so important because (the seniors last year didn’t get one). I was just very fortunate and blessed that I got to play with my friends from high school one last time. I didn’t think I was going to get to. It was just really fun going through it. I played a lot for the friends that didn’t get to (last season). So I always thought about that during the games.

Do you prefer to pitch or hit? Will you continue to be two-way player at Central Washington?

They’re definitely a lot different. I’ve just worked so hard with pitching my whole life and being a hitter kind of came with that. If I go to college and I don’t hit, that will be fine with me just because I’ve worked so hard as a pitcher. Hitting is more fun. It always feels better when I’m hitting better rather than pitching. It’s just the whole team dynamic. … Pitching is a bit more of grind, because I feel like I expect a lot out of myself when I’m pitching just because I’ve put in the time. With hitting, obviously I work on it, but I’m going to college for pitching, and I’m not even sure if hitting is gonna come with that. If it does, I’ll be very appreciative and work hard at it. But not a lot of people see me as a hitter.

It sounded like Cascade was trying to pitch around you when you hit that walk-off home run. What was your mindset with a 2-0 count after seeing two pitches well out of the strike zone?

I definitely did feel like they were pitching around me. There was two balls that were way over my head and the catcher was standing up. I just thought in that moment, ‘If they throw me a pitch that’s anywhere near the plate, I’m not gonna miss it.’ I’ll take the walk, but I wanted to hit. I was jacked up from the game and the whole situation, and I was thinking that I can’t miss any opportunity I get this season. That was my approach for that at-bat.

Where does that game rank for you as far as top moments in your softball career? Is there a clear No. 1?

I would say probably top three or four. It was a really good dynamic. … I have two (top) moments. One would be my very last high school game, against Jackson. I hit the winning run in. My dad has been my biggest supporter my whole life, and I just made eye contact with him and he was crying. That was probably the best moment because he’s been through it all with me.

Another top moment would be when I went to San Bernardino for the Little League regionals tournament. I went to the hospital because I got an infection. … I played the whole time and we won regionals. … I got hospitalized and I was throwing up during the games, but didn’t want to be taken out. I pitched all the games and my team and parents really helped me out. It was really cool. I mean, it wasn’t cool during it because I was so sick, but just looking back I’m like, ‘Wow, I love this game so much I would put my life at risk to play it at 13-years-old.’

You mentioned your dad being there for it all throughout your softball career. Can you elaborate a little more on the relationship you two have built through the sport?

There’s been years where I don’t even believe in myself, and that’s hard as an athlete. You feel like nobody believes in you, you feel like you’re at you’re low, and he was always there and always pushed me. He doesn’t miss a game, he’s been my coach, he loves to just see me and my sister succeed in whatever we do. … He’s just my biggest fan and my biggest supporter. Every time I succeed at something, he’s the first person to tell me how great of a game I had. Even if I had a bad game, he would tell me what I need to work on or help me through (the mental part). He’s the strongest person I know. I love when he watches me and love knowing that he is there for me all the time. He would do anything. … He coached me from T-ball all the way through my eighth-grade year of select.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

Balanced scoring attack leads Gonzaga

Zags take over second place in WCC with 88-77 win over USF.

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 caps second-half run, pushes No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

Prep roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 12

Terrace, Monroe girls advance in district hoops tournament.

Kimberly Beard, a Mukilteo resident who attends King's High School, prepares to release a throw during the 20-pound weight competition at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Donna Beard)
Mukilteo’s Kimberly Beard wins throwing event

The King’s High School junior won the 20-pound weight throw at a George Fox indoor meet.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.