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Luverne High School sophomore Jackson Miller has been named to the 2017-2018 Alabama Writers All-State baseball team.

Miller joins 41 other players from Class 2A as the first-team first baseman. The circumstance Jackson was put it in at the beginning of the season makes the all-state nod even more notable.

Greg Evans just finished his first year as the Tigers head coach. He asked Miller to fill a position he wasn’t necessarily familiar with.

“Myself and the assistant coach were both in our first year at Luverne, so we just asked all the players to go to the position they were most comfortable with,” Evans explained. “We realized we didn’t have anyone to play first base. So we moved Jackson from third to first, and obviously he was successful there.”

Miller, a sophomore last season, also had the second-highest batting average on the team and regularly pitched as well.

Evans, who is a Luverne High School alumnus himself, said Miller does everything that is asked of him, and he’s a hard worker.

“He always figures out how to be a better player and improve specific skills,” Evans added.

Evans said that Milller, in addition to being a “great all-around player”, also starts as center for the LHS football team and maintains an all-A average academically.

Last season, Miller’s batting average was .352 and he led the team with 30 RBI. On defense, Miller had 121 chances and committed just three errors. He also pitched in seven games with a 2.8 earned run average.

Getting named to first team All-State wasn’t something Miller necessarily planned on happening but it was a goal. He and his family were notified about the accomplishment last Sunday.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it when I found out,” Miller said. “I felt like I had a pretty good year considering I never had played first base. I had played third base for years now. My coaches had confidence in me to play the position.”

Miller said he now has a newfound love for the first base position.

“I’m really excited for next season,” he said. “I feel like I have a lot to improve on overall – at the plate and on defense.”

Lynn and Scott Miller, Jackson’s parents, were just as surprised as their son on when they heard the news.

“It was a complete shocker to us,” Lynn Miller laughed. “Jackson had a really good year, though. We’re so proud of him and appreciative to the coaches for all the work they did with Jackson.”