Miller and Coble to be honored Saturday at Hall of Fame banquet

Jan. 31, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio – The Betty Cleland and Way-Weigelt awards are the most honored distinctions the Marietta College Athletics Department presents each year. The recipients receive their awards at the annual Hall of Fame banquet each February. This year’s recipients are two successful Marietta College Athletes who are certainly deserving of these awards, which will be given out Saturday.

Softball pitching ace Candice Miller was the 2004 Betty Cleland Award winner and the honor of the Way-Weigelt Award went to Pioneer shortstop Andy Coble.

Miller’s accomplishments on the diamond make her an outstanding selection for this prestigious award.

The four-year letter winner and two-time first team All-OAC honoree closed out a remarkable career in 2004, but not before she etched her name into the record books. This past spring, Miller became the Marietta and OAC career strikeout queen as she finished her career with 591 strikeouts.

The right hander is ranked number one on the MC career list in shutouts (19), games pitched (95), complete games (64), wins (41), and innings pitched (541 2/3), while is second in ERA (1.69). She also holds the season record for shutouts (7), games (30), innings pitched (155 1/3) and strikeouts (168).

“Candice is quite possibly the most accomplished pitcher in the history of our program,” said Jeanne Arbuckle, head softball coach. “She dominated in the OAC and, in my opinion, was one of the top pitchers in the region, if not the nation.”

Miller finished her senior season with an overall record of 8-8. She worked 103 1/3 innings, and allowed 36 runs (21 earned) on 93 hits to finish with a 1.42 ERA. Miller fanned 120 hitters and walked just 17 this past spring. Opponents hit just .231 against Miller in her 17 appearances.

A leader by example, Miller displayed the highest level of sportsmanship and was an excellent role model for others to follow. The co-captain in 2004 always kept her composure and remained positive even when she was not given the run support needed to win.

The marketing major graduated from Marietta College last spring with minors in both finance and psychology and is currently searching for a job in her field.

Coble was a four-year letter winner for the Etta Express. His versatility played an integral role in the success of the Pioneers on the baseball field over the last four seasons, which included two regional championships and two national runner-up finishes.

As a freshman in 2001, Coble was the leader of the outfield. The center fielder was fourth on the team with a .370 batting average, scored 50 runs and drove in 17. He earned second team All-OAC and All-NCAA Mideast Region honors for his efforts and played a key role in the team’s national runner-up finish.

Coble platooned in the outfield his sophomore year and finished the season hitting .289. He made the switch from the outfield to infield as a junior and started all 43 games at second base, hitting .282.

“Andy’s athleticism allowed us the ability to immediately fill holes left from graduation without missing a beat,” said head baseball coach Brian Brewer.

Coble changed positions again as a senior in 2004, anchoring the Pioneer infield from shortstop. The senior batted .368 (57-for-155) and led the Etta Express in runs scored (52) and sacrifices (10). He also finished second in hits (57), triples (4), home runs (5), total bases (87) and walks (23). He was a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen base attempts this past spring on his way to earning first team All-OAC honors.

The Athens native closed out his career batting .336 (171-for-509), scored 153 runs and drove in 105. In 165 games, Coble was 47-of-53 (.887) in stolen base attempts.

Coble remains on campus to fullfill his graduation requirements and is serving as an assistant coach with the Etta Express.

MC will also induct the 22nd class into the MC Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as present Doug Griebel with the Distinguished Service Award. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include football and rowing standout John Foster ’74, All-American baseball player James Burton ’79, basketball star Matt Littlefield ’86, All-American running back Jamey Cua ’90 and basketball standout Lisa Wagner ’94.

To reserve your place today, contact Sports Information Director Dan May at 376-4891 or e-mail Wendy Thieman at thiemana@marietta.edu.