Senior Hannah Miller has made a huge impact on the Westside softball team. Miller has been a part of the varsity program since she was a freshman. Last season Miller had 119 strikeouts and pitched 104 innings. Miller talks about what she hopes to accomplish in her last season as starting pitcher.   

“ This season I want to grow as a team, we have such strong bonds that can make or break a team. I also believe that we will be able to make it to state, and compete. Making it to state is my main goal for the season for my team, but my personal goal is to try and come close to the strikeout record,” Miller said.  

Head coach Mike Leapley talks about how much of a true impact Miller has been to the team. 

“Hannah has had a lasting impact on this team for many years now. As a freshman, she was a fierce competitor. Hannah, I have watched her grow so much this year from years past. She is starting to see what we all have seen in her for many years.  She has the stuff to be THE PITCHER. We had to work on a few things with her, and she has put in the work to get herself to where she is today. The team feeds off Hannah, and she feeds off the team, just not with her pitching. She, if you didn’t know, is a great hitter, ” Leapley said.  

Miller’s strikeouts wouldn’t be possible without her catcher, senior Hadley Hansen talks about how her bond with Miller has impacted her. 

“ My bond with Hannah makes games and practices feel so much easier and fun. Hannah is an amazing leader, teammate, and friend. She is very selfless; constantly doing things behind the scenes for myself and others. I can’t express how grateful I am for Hannah, and everything she does. Our bond has made my softball and school experience at Westside far more enjoyable than it would have been without,”  Hansen said. 

Miller has played softball for eight years and talks about how it has impacted her life for the better on and off the field. 

“Softball is something that has made me into the person I am today, I don’t know who I would be without it. On the field, I compete hard to win every time I am pitching or having a chance to benefit my team. Off the field, it really takes over my mind. After a game I still think about what I could do better, and it really takes up my time. I let it impact me a little too much, but I love it. Softball has also given me so many friendships, and without it I wouldn’t have met so many important people in my life,”  Miller said. 

Coach Leapley talks about how Miller leads the younger girls through every inning. 

“ Her mental toughness. I’m so proud of her. She has worked really hard on this in the off-season. She knows she leads by example. AS a pitcher, you are going to have the highs and lows, inning by inning, game by game,” Leapley said. 

Hansen talks about what playing alongside Miller means to her. 

“Playing alongside Hannah has been the biggest gift I could’ve ever asked for. For the past five-ish years I’ve been lucky enough to catch for her in high school and summer ball. We’ve grown up together. Mentally and physically we have matured in the sport and doing it together made it that much more enjoyable. We both understand each other really well and that helps us, help each other whether it be games, practices, or anything non-softball related,” Hansen said. 

Junior Kalista Rich talks about how Miller has impacted her as a pitcher and what she will miss the most about Miller. 

“Hannah has impacted me in so many ways on and off the field. On the field I was a nervous freshman coming in and worried because pitching is a hard thing to do especially at this level and Hannah helped me big time with that. She reminded me that you don’t always have to be on your A game and there are going to be times when you aren’t at your best but it’s how you handle it that matters. She also always has my back and if I am not on my A game she will come in and shut it down. As for off the field me and Hannah grew very close being not only on the same high school team but also for club ball. I love being able to call Hannah my teammate and have a bond like sisters,” Rich said. 

Coach Leapley also coaches Miller during their club season, Miller talks about what having the same coach all year long means to her. 

“ Mike is one of the most important people in my life, I only met him four years ago but it feels like I’ve known him my whole life. We have gone through good and bad and every time either way he was there for me,” Miller said. 

As much of an impact Coach Leapley has had on Miller she has also made an impact on him, Leapley talks about how much he has enjoyed having Miller a part of his teams. 

“ Watching her grow has challenged me to be a better coach, to push harder for my players, and to remember that my role is not just about teaching the game, but about shaping players both on and off the field as young student-athletes. She’s shown me that impact goes both ways. All of my players have impacted me one way or another. This team has a special bond that is so great to see. I’m just happy for all of them, JV and Varsity. Shows me we are doing it the right way,” Leapley said. 

Rich talks about her favorite memory on the field with Miller. 

“ My favorite memory on the field is probably when my freshman year she was on first base when I hit my very first home run and she turned around and yelled “LETS GO KAL” and hyped me up all the way around the bases. Hannah is an amazing teammate and an even better friend and I wouldn’t trade her for anything,” Rich said. 

Miller talks about what Westside softball has taught her these last four years. 

“ Westside Softball has taught me that even though I am only with these girls playing for six weeks, you have to create a strong bond with them. Pick your battles, make everyone feel included and always play for your team. The main thing is that Softball is just a game, even with every loss and win, after everything it doesn’t define you,” Miller said. 

Coach Leapley talks about what he will miss most about Miller when she swings into her next base. 

“ What am I going to miss? It’s Hannah Miller. We’ll miss her presence, but we’re excited to see the next chapter of her journey,” Leapley said. 

Miller reflects on her years being a part of Westside softball, she talks about her favorite memory being a part of the team. 

 “ My favorite memory on Westside Softball was my sophomore year, metros vs Millard West. I did a fine job but my team came through for me, everyone was hitting and making plays in the field, and eventually Baylee hit a grand slam and Hadley hit a 2 run homerun. Everyone was so happy and I was so glad I was and am a part of the team,” Miller said.  

You can catch Miller in action Sep 6 at Bellevue East.