Avery Miller spent her offseason in the gym four times a week, threw into a net in her garage, and came back to the circle a different pitcher.

The Naperville Central High School (440 W Aurora Ave) junior went 19-6 with a 1.82 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 161⅔ innings this spring, earning the 2026 Naperville Sun Softball Player of the Year award announced Wednesday, June 17.

She was also named DuPage Valley Conference pitcher of the year after going 13-0 in league play. She hasn't lost a conference game in two years.

The numbers tell a bounce-back story. Miller acknowledged a sophomore hitting slump in a profile published by the Naperville Sun, saying she performed better as a freshman than she did last year. This season, she batted .392 with a team-high nine home runs and 34 RBIs, tying sophomore first baseman Lacie Williams for the team lead.

"I just put in a bunch of work, and I think it's really refreshing to see it pay off and for it to be successful," Miller told the Naperville Sun.

Redhawks head coach Andy Nussbaum said he noticed the biggest difference in Miller's mental toughness on the mound, pointing to games where opponents left eight or nine runners on base against her. He said her extra-base hits and home runs came in key situations this season compared to her sophomore year.

One of those moments: a walk-off two-run homer that beat St. Charles East 10-9 on May 8.

Miller's season powered Naperville Central (25-10, 15-0 DVC) to its second consecutive conference title and first IHSA regional championship since 2015. The Redhawks won five more games than they did in 2025.

Miller was one of five Redhawks named to the Naperville Sun All-Area team, joined on the first team by senior shortstop Natalie Lau (Penn commit), junior outfielder Cali Lenz (DVC Conference MVP, all-state third team), and sophomore outfielder Fiona Brown.

Miller earned all-state second-team honors. She's a junior, so she'll be back in the circle for the Redhawks in 2027.

North Central College summer home event schedules and Naperville Park District registration deadlines could not be confirmed as of Wednesday, June 17. Check northcentralcardinals.com for NCC events and napervilleparks.org for Park District program registration.