Hall of Fame
Following an outstanding junior college career in Arizona , Rich Miller had secured a scholarship to NCAA Div. I Florida International University . During that fall he sustained an ankle injury in out-of-season practice which kept him from playing during the regular season of spring during that school year. What turned out to be Miller’s bad luck in Florida became Point Loma’s good fortune in California . Following Miller’s enrollment at PLNC, the paper work trail to retrieve a hardship year became pretty heavy as FIU was not particularly enamored with his transfer. Coast-to-coast appeals were not their priority. Through arduous pursuit, it was finally determined that Miller would have two years of eligibility left.
In those two short years on the Crusader baseball team, Miller established a number of records and earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology. During 1991 and ’92, he largely carried the Crusader offense. He set single season records and career records with his season batting average of .462 and career average of .414. Additionally, he appeared in the record book as second in single season hits with 80 in 1991 and season doubles at 19 in 1992. He was fourth in season homeruns in both seasons at 12 each which also tied him for fourth in career home runs (24). He was tied for ninth in all-time career RBIs. He was on base 50 percent of his plate appearances for two full seasons and struck out 35 times in 402 at bats. He played at third and first base and also in the outfield and was on the All-District team twice. His slugging average of .780 seems almost unfathomable.
“As remarkable as Rich was on the field, he was truly so off the field,” said Ron Caton, former teammate. “He was a leader by example with a dedicated work ethic that was evident in his studies as well as in athletics. I am extremely honored to lend my support to the election of Rich Miller into the Hall of Fame for his actions on and off the baseball field representing Point Loma Nazarene in 1991 and ’92.”
Miller went on to marry Sunday Renzema, a four-year volleyball player, scholar-athlete and CSA Outstanding Female Athlete award winner who graduated in 1992.
The award for Outstanding Achievement by an Athlete was presented to Miller by Bob Brower.
