Bode Miller pinch hits for charity in pro game

Alpine star Bode Miller took time out from summer training Tuesday for a night at the ballpark.
    Miller signed a one-game contract with the Nashua Pride, a minor-league professional baseball team in Miller’s home state of New Hampshire. Tuesday night, Miller played three innings for the Pride in a 5-1 loss to the New Haven County Cutters.
    The reigning FIS super G titlist, Miller went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and did not field any balls in his three innings in left field. But the game drew 2,482 fans to historic Holman Stadium, helping Miller’s Turtle Ridge Foundation raise more than $5,000. The foundation hosted more than 250 members of the New Hampshire Boys & Girls Club for the game.
ALPINE STAR Bode Miller took time out from summer training Tuesday for a night at the ballpark.
    Miller signed a one-game contract with the Nashua Pride, a minor-league professional baseball team in Miller’s home state of New Hampshire. Tuesday night, Miller played three innings for the Pride in a 5-1 loss to the New Haven County Cutters.
    The reigning FIS super G titlist, Miller went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and did not field any balls in his three innings in left field. But the game drew 2,482 fans to historic Holman Stadium, helping Miller’s Turtle Ridge Foundation raise more than $5,000. The foundation hosted more than 250 members of the New Hampshire Boys & Girls Club for the game.
    Wednesday, Miller hosts the Chip In 2007 charity golf tournament at the Overlook Golf Course in Hollis, N.H.
    New Haven lefty Ryan Bonesio struck out Miller on three pitches in the first inning. In the third, with two runners on base, Miller fouled off two pitches before swinging and missing on a pitch down and away.
    “The first at-bat he got me pretty good,” Miller told the Nashua Telegraph. “I watched the first pitch pretty good and I wish I had swung at it because I was right on it timewise. …
    “The second at-bat I didn’t feel comfortable, but with [Bonesio’s] fastball, the timing was no problem. The guy last year had serious heat. The last [pitch], whatever it was, it was going out and away and it’s just hard to pick that up. I just didn’t see it early enough, but by the time I’m swinging, I realize it’s going away from me.”

    Miller briefly spoke to the press about his departure from the U.S. Ski Team.
    “My energy right now feels a lot better than it has the last couple of years,” Miller said. “I’m making adjustments to my program already that I wasn’t able to make in the past. A big part of my issues with the team was I couldn’t run the program I thought would give me the best chance to come into the season at my top level. No top athlete wants to have that situation where their organization or team is in some ways limiting them.”


    Miller also was asked about his participation in future Olympics. “If I’m around and racing when they come, I don’t see myself skipping them,” he said.