Standing on second base with one out in the fourth inning against Pittsburgh on April 7, Ashley Miller couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious. Three weeks ago, the junior for the Syracuse softball team couldn’t have imagined she would be playing in an Orange uniform, seeing time as a pinch runner in a Big East game.

That’s because three weeks ago, Miller was the team’s student manager.

Injuries to pitcher Erin Downey, catcher Kim Weinstein and outfielder Whitney Born have severely limited Syracuse head coach Leigh Ross throughout the season, often leaving Ross with only two bench players. As a result, Ross and associate head coach Kyle Jamieson recruited Miller to fill in sporadically as a pinch runner and extra body on the bench.

‘In Spring Break we were in Florida, and (Jamieson) kind of pulled me aside and said, ‘What do you think about pinch running?” Miller said. ‘I told him it was something I would be willing to do.’

Three weeks later, after going through necessary registration procedures with the NCAA and Syracuse, Miller officially became Syracuse’s newest outfielder.

The need for an extra bench option became critical when Born went down with a broken leg that will sideline her for the next three to four months. Born’s injury was the latest in a string of medical setbacks for the Orange that started prior to the season when ace pitcher Downey was ruled out for the season with back problems. Weinstein finally made her return to the lineup this past weekend after a laceration on her throwing hand, catching two innings against Louisville.

Syracuse (15-26, 5-7 Big East) has had its last four games against South Florida and Cornell snowed out.

‘I think injuries hit you no matter where you are, but it’s just been one of those years when it’s really bit us,’ Jamieson said. ‘We were already short when we first came to this program, and now it just gives us no depth and no room to make any moves really.’

Needing insurance off the bench to support sophomores Keri Casas and Jorden Rosen, the Syracuse coaches thought of Miller, who would occasionally join in on outfield drills during practice.

‘We saw at practice that Ashley had a little bit of speed and decided that if she was going to be traveling with us, we might as well see if we could get her cleared to play,’ Jamieson said.

Miller isn’t totally inexperienced on the softball diamond. Involved with softball since age 6, Miller played varsity softball at Shaker High School in Latham, N.Y., her junior and senior years. The centerfielder even earned third-team all-state honors her senior season.

Yet none of those accolades led to Miller being recruited, and her plans to walk-on at Syracuse were derailed when she tore three ligaments in her knee while playing softball the summer before coming to SU. Miller still wears an athletic brace when she plays.

Earlier this fall, Miller saw her opportunity to get involved in softball once more.

‘I was actually walking down Marshall Street and I saw a flyer for tryouts and a managerial position,’ Miller said. ‘I just took down the e-mail and told (assistant coach) Jaime (Grillo) I was interested and my background in softball.’

Miller has retained her original job as manager since officially becoming eligible to play. Her jobs off the field for the softball team include making flyers for recruits, looking over letters and videos sent in by recruits, and performing any odd jobs Ross asks of her.

While Miller’s presence does provide SU with a last resort in the field should an injury or ejection occur, Miller is by no means the solution to the Orange’s lack of depth. As a broadcast journalism and geography dual-major and team manager, Miller often has little time to practice with the team. In terms of being a true member of the team, Miller still feels like she’s ‘in-between.’

In addition, the outfield is perhaps Syracuse’s strongest position, and the likelihood of Miller seeing any playing time in the field or at the plate remains for now a long-shot. Her debut against Pittsburgh two weekends ago is the only action she has seen so far in three games.

Miller stresses she is just happy to help the team in any way she can and doesn’t mind her role as a pinch runner and emergency replacement. When asked if she would consider joining the team full time, Miller refused to rule out the option.

‘If I were going to play seriously, I’d have to practice more often,’ Miller said. ‘It’s something I’ll probably look into.’

Published on April 17, 2007 at 12:00 pm