How Luke Miller helped save Arlington baseball's season: 'One of those things you dream of'
MURFREESBORO – For almost three hours, the baseball field at Oakland High School was empty.
Lightning struck sporadically, prolonging the delay with each strike. Thunder rolled through, and rain poured onto the outfield grass. Coaches from Arlington and Oak Ridge, only an inning and a half away from completing their Class 4A elimination game, huddled inside an indoor baseball facility with TSSAA officials.
On the Arlington bus, Luke Miller was playing Geometry Dash.
When the game finally restarted, it was Miller — a senior relief pitcher for the Tigers who had warmed up and even entered the game just moments before it was delayed — who sealed the 6-3 win for Arlington, getting the final five outs and striking out the final batter to extend the Tigers' season for at least another day.
"It's one of those things you dream of," Miller said. "I mean, you're visualizing that strikeout to end the game. You're just getting ready for it."
Miller's final strikeout capped what amounted to an eight-hour day for Arlington. The Tigers started Wednesday with a 3-2 loss to Nolensville that meant they had to turn around and immediately face the Wildcats in a win-or-go-home game.
Arlington built a 5-3 lead before the delay thanks a second-inning double from Braden Register that drove in two runs and three RBIs from Jack Pitts. But coach Jonathan Moody needed to replace starting pitcher Eli DeBerry, who went 5 ⅓ innings and allowed two earned runs.
That's when he decided to turn to Miller, a senior who hasn't played much during his Arlington career. And still, with the season literally on the line, it was Miller who got the call.
He warmed up next to the field. Then DeBerry came out, and Miller warmed up on the field. And then, before he'd thrown a regulation pitch, the game got delayed.
"You could tell how bad he wanted it. He's one of the hardest workers we've got. Maybe not the most gifted or the most talented that we have, but his heart shows up every single night," Moody said. "He's come up clutch for us in big games this year. And none bigger than that one."
No one knew when the delay would end, or even if it would end. There were pools of water forming in the outfield; softball Spring Fling games were delayed until Thursday. But when the game did resume, close to three hours later, it was again Miller on the mound.
The Tigers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, but it wasn't necessary — Miller retired all five batters he faced, striking out three.
It was a win that gave Arlington a chance to fight for its life again on Thursday, when Arlington will meet Nolensville again at Oakland at 2 p.m. If the Tigers win, they'll play each other again at 4:30 p.m. The winner of that game will go to the Class 4A state title game on Friday.
But Wednesday's win was also a moment for Miller, a lifelong Tigers fan who dreamed of wearing the same uniform he wore for more than eight hours on Wednesday.
"Being a little kid, and looking at Arlington, it's always been kind of a dream of mine to be able to play for this program," he said. "And being able to come out, as a senior, and making the tournament, it means a lot to me.
"It's definitely a lot of fun, getting to be that guy that you dream of being. This is one of those moments you definitely dream of. Elimination game, coming in the last inning and slamming the door. That's what it is."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Luke Miller helped Arlington baseball overcome loss, hourslong delay
