This year, the Madison County High School (MCHS) baseball team will be losing several star senior athletes. However, many of these outstanding players are now being given the opportunity to continue their baseball careers at the collegiate level. Dillon Burns and Gabe Miller represent the most recent additions to this list. These young men were recently informed by MCHS baseball coach, Brian Annett, that they had been invited to play baseball for Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) Blue Wave.
Burns is the son of Amy and Danny Burns, and the grandson of Dale and Mary Frances Kinard (maternal) and Diane Burns (paternal). He is a MCHS Cowboys four-year starter who has primarily played in the pitcher and shortstop positions. Even while competing in both of these fast-paced positions, Burns has by no means neglected the batters' box. In fact, Burns has excelled at the plate by driving in four season home runs, scoring 35 total runs and earning a batting average of .424. Burns, who has been playing baseball since the age of four, looks forward to attending FSCJ in the fall and competing for a starting position in the Blue Wave 2017 team. On the most important aspect of this opportunity, Burns stated, “I will have the chance to further my education.” Burns would also like to send his family and all those who have supported him over the years a huge “thank you” for everything they have done.
Miller is the son of Angela Eastabrooks and Chris Miller, and the grandson of Bill Andrews and Barbara Johnson (maternal) and Gloria and Dennis Miller (paternal). He has also played for MCHS during all four years of high school, playing middle infield for the Cowboys. Out of his 26 games in 2016, Miller had 33 season hits, 24 runs and a batting average of .440. Miller has been playing baseball for 14 years, and competing at the collegiate level is like a childhood dream come true for him. “It means the world to be able to continue to play at the next level, especially since that’s all I've ever wanted to do growing up,” said Miller. For Miller, the competitiveness of the sport is what makes it worth while. As he said, “almost 100 percent of the time, the more competitive team wins.” Miller too, would like to thank the support system that has stood behind him throughout his baseball career: his family. Additionally, Miller would like to thank Coach Barrs and Fletcher for their years of help. He would also like to specially thank Coach Annett for helping he and Dillon Burns achieve their shared goal of playing college baseball.