Illinois State’s Miller, Rave earn MVC honors

John Rave
Illinois Stat freshman John Rave was second in the Missouri Valley Conference with four triples this season. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

ST. LOUIS – Illinois State’s Owen Miller and John Rave were among the players recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference announced its postseason honors Tuesday.

Miller was an All-MVC Second-Team selection, while Rave earned All-MVC Honorable Mention status in addition to being named to the league’s All-Defensive Team.

Miller, a sophomore shortstop from Fredonia, Wisconsin, ranked among the conference’s leaders in several key offensive categories. He tallied the second-most hits (75) and fourth-most doubles (19), with the league’s sixth-best batting average (.332), during the 2017 season. Miller led Illinois State in all three categories, as well as: games played and started (51), at-bats (226), runs (32), home runs (6), RBIs (47), total bases (18), slugging percentage (.522) and OPS (.879).

Miller tallied 25 multi-hit games during the 2017 season and 12 games with multiple RBIs. He posted a personal- and team-best hitting streak of 13 games. As Illinois State’s everyday shortstop, Miller registered a .973 fielding percentage, committing just six errors in 223 defensive chances.

Rave, a freshman outfielder from Bloomington, Illinois, became Illinois State’s everyday starting center fielder early in the season. His four triples rank as the second most in the Valley, while his 12 stolen bases are good enough for sixth best; both totals lead Illinois State players. Rave also ranks second among Redbird players in hits (54), runs (30) and walks (27), and third in batting average (.276).

In addition to the all-conference honorable mention honor, Rave was also recognized among the league’s top defensive players, thanks to a .984 fielding percentage. Rave was responsible for 118 putouts and provided two outfield assists as the Redbirds’ center fielder, while committing just two errors.

Miller, Rave and the Illinois State baseball team will head to Springfield, Missouri, for the MVC Tournament, beginning Wednesday. The No. 8 seed Redbirds will open up against top seed and host Missouri State, at 7:30 p.m., at Hammons Field.

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…