FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Before every game, Rogers Heritage junior pitcher Cade Miller has his routine.
"I like to kind of be by myself a little bit, just like zone in," said Miller. "I have a lot of caffeine for my starts as well. Just gets me just me energized."
That energy came in handy, when he no-hit Southside on March 26th, punching out eight batters in the effort.
"As I would go up to start pitching every new inning, I didn't really think about it too much. I just pitched," said Miller.
"I didn't even know he had a no hitter.," said Head Coach Brain Walker. "All of a sudden, the game's over and I know we won five nothing. And they're like, 'Cade threw a no hitter.' And I'm like, 'Fantastic. Good for him.' "
So far it's been Miller's sinker-slider mix that has helped him be successful this season, with over 30 strikeouts in eight games Coach Walker is impressed with Miller's improvements.
"He's a frontline guy at the next level," said Walker. "It's just a matter of time, and when he grows into and completes his body."
For now though, Miller is focused on improving every single outing.
"I would like to go 90 in the game.," said Miller. "I've yet to do that in a game. I've done that during a bullpen before."
"He's stronger, he's more stable, a lot of work outside of practice time, more consistent with his delivery," said Walker of Miller's improvements.
But for this season the goal for Miller and the team is to bring home a state title.
"It's one game at a time," said Walker "You know, there's stuff on the wall that's been done here before, but hasn't been done in a long time. So everything's out in front of them. And they have the opportunity to achieve that.
"It'd be a lot to our school more than us," said Miller. "I feel like our school deserves us to win."