Sports : Granddaughter of Vinton couple earns First-Team Big 12 honors for ISU softball

Erica Miller, the grandddaughter of Dave and Marcia Hite, earned First Team Big 12 honors.

AMES -- Iowa State first baseman Erica Miller has been named to the First Team All-Big 12, the league office announced Tuesday. The honor is Miller's second conference nod after being selected to the second team in 2011.

Miller is the granddaughter of Dave and Marcia Hite of Vinton.

"Her family lives in California, and ISU recruited her after seeing her play on a traveling team," said Marcia.

One of the Big 12's most consistent bats this season, Miller never hit below .364 after March 4 and finished the season ranked ninth in both average (.343) and slugging (.614) during league play, both averages leading the Cyclone club.

The Pomona, Calif. native also was top 10 in conference play with 24 hits (ninth), five home runs (ninth) and 43 total bases (seventh). Miller drove in three runs each during games against then-No. 14 Texas A&M and Kansas and finished the year with 27 career home runs, second-most in Iowa State history.

With one season remaining in her Iowa State career, Miller has already taken her place Iowa State history, ranking second in career home runs, ninth in hits (141), third in RBIs (97) and third in batting average (.323). Miller's 24 career doubles is three shy of the top 10 at Iowa State.

Texas led all teams with five first team selections.

Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso earned Coach of the Year honors and Sooners Keilani Ricketts and Lauren Chamberlain were named the league's top player and freshman, respectively. Missouri's Chelsea Thomas was recognized as the best pitcher in the Big 12 and Tiger Corrin Genovese took defensive honors.