The Legacy Continues, Second Annual Keith Miller Invitational In Full Swing

The Second Annual Keith Miller Memorial Miller Memorial Invitational, honoring the much respected, long time baseball coach and sports referee from Knox, is in full swing in DuBois.

Keith coached baseball at just about every level, T-ball, Little League, American Legion… He started and coached the Keystone High School Baseball Team and was the founder of the Keystone Diamond Club. Keith conducted hitting seminars and also worked with teams and players at the pitching machine at Millers’ Sporting Goods. He was always one with a passion to pass along his vast knowledge to see players excel, whether they were on his team or another team.

The event is being conducted by Keith’s son Chad, who is the co-founder of the Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center and Louisville Jockeys minor league baseball team.

 Chad has quite a re`sume` in the as a player and coach. He verbally committed as a catcher, to North Carolina State as a ninth grader. But the NC State coach left mid season for the University of South Carolina. Chad then signed with and played for Cleveland State and later transferred to Slippery Rock, finishing his playing career there. After his playing career was done he coached at Penn State-Beaver and then Marshall University.

For the article for last year’s Baseball All-Star Game, Chad had this to say about his father’s legacy of caring, “That was one of the things that was great about dad. He didn’t care who you were; he just wanted you to be successful as a baseball player. And that is really what this event is about, to give these kids another look and give them one last run as a high school baseball player, whether it is the last game of their career or whether it’s the last game of their high school career and they are moving on to college. And that is what is so fun about this event . . .” 

Asked to share his goals for this year’s event, Chad said, “The goals of this week are to celebrate the life of a phenomenal coach and an even better person. My dad dedicated his life to making kids better players and most importantly better humans. It is now my families mission to carry on that legacy. The City of DuBois has been an incredible partner and I cannot thank Amanda Rosen enough for her efforts. Mark Martinez has also been amazing in his efforts to help this week be a tremendous success. 

“I would also like to thank my team with the Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center led by Heather Keepers for setting up the camps and clinics to allow us to help so many kids enjoy learning about the science of Baseball and Softball.”

This year’s event began with a Four Day Baseball and Softball Camp, which started on Monday (June 13th) and concludes today (Thursday, June 16th), with Softball from 8:30 AM-11:30AM and Baseball from 1:00PM-4:00PM.

There will be a Parent and Coaches Clinic at the On Deck Indoor Sports Complex today (Thursday, June 16th) at 6:00PM.

Planned for tomorrow (Friday, June 17th) is a Baseball and Softball Combine at Heindl Field, with Baseball registration at 8:30AM and warm up beginning at 9:00AM, and Softball registration at 1:30PM and warm up beginning at 2:00PM.

The District Nine/District Ten Softball All-Star Game will take place Friday evening, at Heindl Field, with the National Anthem scheduled for 6:15PM and the First Pitch at 6:30PM.

A number of Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) players are listed on the Softball Roster: Clarion Area – Noel Anthony (outfield and second base) and Jordan Best (catcher / unable to attend); Clarion-Limestone – Abby Himes (catcher) and Francis Milliron (third base); Forest Area Emily Aites (first base); Cranberry – Olivia Plummer(outfield); and Karns City – Ashley Fox (short stop and outfield) and Rossie McMillen (outfield).

A big day is scheduled for Saturday (June 18th). The Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center will conduct Micro Clinics at Showers Field in the morning and afternoon, with Diagnostics at 9:30AM, Hitting at 10:30AM, Throwing at 11:30AM, Base Running at 1:00PM and Youth at 2:00PM.

The Baseball All-Star Game is set for Showers Field on Saturday evening, with the National Anthem scheduled for 6:15PM and the First Pitch at 6:30PM.

Several Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) players are listed on the Baseball Roster: Redbank Valley – Bryson Bain (pitcher / out for the game); Clarion-Limestone – Bryson Huwar (pitcher and shortstop); and Moniteau – Branson Carson (pitcher).

This super event will conclude on Sunday (June 19th) with The Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center again conducting Micro Clinics at Showers Field in the morning and afternoon, with Base Running at 10:00AM, Throwing at 11:00AM, Diagnostics at 1:00PM and hitting at 2:00PM.

Thank you to Chad Miller and the Miller family, the City of DuBois, all the various organizations and sponsors involved for providing this great event for the kids and honoring A Fine, Fine Man.

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Current Rosters as of posting of article