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The Athletes of the Week - one boy and one girl - are chosen from teams in the WPIAL and City League by the Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff. Drew Henigin, North Allegheny -- Kimmie Miller, Chartiers-Houston
Thursday, June 15, 2000
Drew Henigin
SCHOOL: North Allegheny.
WHO IS HE? A senior pitcher-third baseman who helped put North Allegheny one win from the PIAA Class AAA championship.
THE PAST WEEK: Henigin pitched a one-hitter and struck out eight as North Allegheny defeated Carrick, 10-0, in a PIAA semifinal Tuesday. The game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run rule. He also had a solo home run and a double. North Allegheny will play in the championship game Monday in Harrisburg.
SEASON: Henigin has a 7-3 record and has won two of North Allegheny's three PIAA playoff games. The other victory was 11-1 over Erie Cathedral Prep. Henigin has an earned run average below 2.00 and has 68 strikeouts in 411/3 innings.
CAREER: Henigin has been on North Allegheny's varsity since his sophomore season. He was used mainly as a closer last year but moved into a starting role this season.
A HITTER, TOO: Henigin has a school record eight home runs this season and also is one of North Allegheny's top hitters with an average close to .400.
MOVING TO THE HOT CORNER: Henigin also played some at shortstop as a sophomore and junior. But he moved to third base this season at the request of North Allegheny Coach Tim Banner. Henigin didn't mind the move.
"Coach didn't want to have to change the middle of the infield every time I pitched," he said. "That's what would happen if I was at shortstop. Plus, it's easier on my arm if I'm at third because I don't have to make plays in the hole at shortstop. And we have another good shortstop in Adam Dutka."
A DIVISION I RECRUIT: Henigin, who has a 3.4 grade point average, signed with Virginia Tech a few weeks ago. Virginia Tech is an NCAA Division I college, and the Hokies plan to use him strictly as a pitcher.
FORGET SOCCER: As a sophomore and junior, Henigin was a starting midfielder on North Allegheny's soccer team. He made the all-WPIAL coaches team as a junior. But Henigin gave up soccer in the fall of his senior year to play with the Allegheny Pirates, an all-star team that played weekends in other states.
"I missed soccer a lot, especially since our team took second in the state and won the WPIAL [Class AAA] championship," he said. "But in the long run, I think it was a good decision because this fall is when Virginia Tech saw me play."
BACK AGAIN: Henigin said he will be the starter in Monday's championship game.
-- By Mike White
Kimmie Miller
SCHOOL: Chartiers-Houston
WHO IS SHE? A senior second baseman for the Buccaneers' softball team.
THIS SEASON: Miller leads the Buccaneers (23-1), who will play for the PIAA Class A championship tomorrow in Shippensburg, in hitting with a .458 average. She has 11 doubles, four triples and has 14 RBIs in her role as the leadoff hitter.
CAREER: She is a four-year starter who has played every position in the infield with the exception of first base. Last year, Miller batted .420 (37 for 88) with 20 RBIs, 8 stolen bases and 33 runs scored as a leadoff hitter. She also hit seven doubles and three triples for the Buccaneers, the WPIAL Class A champions and PIAA runners-up. Miller was 11 for 11 in stolen base attempts and hit more than .500 during the playoffs.
TOP GLOVE: Miller played shortstop and third base the past two seasons but was switched to second this year, because she is the team's best fielder.
"With Erica [Riggle] on the mound, most teams don't get around on a lot of balls," said Chartiers-Houston Coach Dan Ross. "So we switched her to second, because that's where most of the action is. And all season, if it is hit to her, you can mark it down as an out. She rarely makes errors or even mishandles the ball."
FOUR YEAR STARTER: Chartiers-Houston has been one of the top teams in the WPIAL Class A the past four years, and Miller has been a starter since her freshman year. This is no small accomplishment considering the team won the WPIAL title in 1999 and made it to the semifinals this year.
"Anyone who starts on the varsity level for four seasons on any team is something special to begin with," Ross said. "But considering the success we've had over the four seasons, she's been here, that says something about how talented she really is."
FAMILY TIES: Playing for the Buccaneers gives Miller plenty of time to spend with her family. Kimmie's cousin, Alyssa Miller, is a junior and the team's starting right fielder. Her father, Glenn, is the team's third base coach. Her uncle, Gene, is the team's first base coach.
"I will definitely miss coaching her and having her here on the team," her father said. "Not just as a father but as a coach. She was one of our leaders and top players, so she'll missed on two fronts by me. But I'll be here next year and as long as Coach Ross wants me."
FUTURE: Miller signed early and will play softball at California University of Pennsylvania.
-- By Paul Zeise
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