Big-hitting Lions

Seniors Miller, Mills lead Lone Tree to 7-win summer

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 7/31/20

The Lions brought the lumber in 2020.

Harmon Miller hit .441 with 19 RBIs and those numbers would have gone even higher if he hadn’t been walked 14 times. Adam Knock hit .425.

Tim Mills …

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Big-hitting Lions

Seniors Miller, Mills lead Lone Tree to 7-win summer

Posted

The Lions brought the lumber in 2020.

Harmon Miller hit .441 with 19 RBIs and those numbers would have gone even higher if he hadn’t been walked 14 times. Adam Knock hit .425.

Tim Mills ranked among the top 20 in the state with 25 RBIs.

Three other Lone Tree hitters reached the .300s: Keegan Edwards at .390, Cade Shield at .381 and Xavier Hayes at .333.

The Lions had won three of four games entering its district tournament semifinal at Notre Dame Burlington, but lost that game, 17-7, to finish off a 7-7 summer. Notre Dame went on to win district and substate titles to reach the Class 1A state tournament this week.

Miller and Mills were clearly the senior leaders for a powerful Lone Tree squad. Both pitched. Miller nearly every position except catcher. Mills, an All-Conference honorable mention selection, was the catcher when he wasn’t pitching.

“Tim was a huge part of our success both offensively and defensively this year,” Lions coach Mike Close said. “He stepped up big for us over and over this year, and had his best year of his career this year.”

Miller had 15 hits and scored 18 runs. On the mound, he started three games and struck out 30.

“Harmon had his best season of his career this year,” Close said. “Hit with a .441 average and led the team in BB, AVG, OBP (.643) and slugging percentage. He reduced his strikeouts dramatically at the plate and was a key component to the success we had this season.”

Miller was a first team All-SEISC and All-District selection. Also making the All-SEISC first team was Knock, a sophomore first baseman who scored 21 runs and had 14 stolen bases.

“Adam played a solid first base for us this year and made us very good defensively,” Close said.

Shield, a sophomore infielder and pitcher, made the All-SEISC second team. He scored 18 runs and had 14 stolen bases.

Junior pitcher Aiden Forbes did not lose a game in four pitching appearances, winning twice, and played strongly at third base.