PETALUMA – Around 75 people gathered on Wednesday night at the sports bar and restaurant of historic McNear’s Mystic Theatre and Music Hall in downtown Petaluma. The throng consisted of family, teammates, coaches and friends all there to celebrate the letter of intent signing by Casa Grande senior A.J. Miller to attend and play baseball at the University of Oregon.
The packed upstairs area of McNear’s was literally turned into a duck pond with all the Oregon Ducks paraphernalia decorating the room.
Miller still has a season to go as a first baseman and outfielder for the Gauchos after hitting .370 last season with three home runs, seven doubles, 32 RBIs, 22 runs scored, five stolen bases, and only one fielding error for a team that went 24-5 but as the top seed was upset by Arroyo in the NCS Division II title game.
With a lot of firepower from the 2017 team having graduated, including Spencer Torkelson who’s now at Arizona State, and a new as yet to be named coach taking the helm, the 6-2, 195-pound Miller will be needed to literally step up to the plate, but maybe not try to do it all.
“A.J. is a very physical kid that has the tools and leadership qualities you can build a team around,” said former and very successful Casa Grande coach Paul Maytorena, who in late October announced his retirement to pursue a business career.
“He’s a great kid off the field too that you really want to root for, continued Maytorena. “He should have a terrific season if he doesn’t try to do too much.”
Baseball season is a bit off in the future but for now on signing day they were whooping it up in Petaluma for the newest Duck in town the folks on the east side are hoping can lead their Gauchos to an NCS championship.
