Rebekah Milian shouldn’t need an introduction.
The junior leftfielder has been a part of the Michigan softball team’s starting lineup since her freshman year, recently notching her 130th collegiate start. But she remains relatively unknown in the shadows of stars like sophomore Samantha Findlay and senior pitcher Jennie Ritter.
Milian doesn’t have Findlay’s power or Ritter’s fastball, but she has an equally lethal attribute: speed.
The Grand Blanc native’s quickness is unparalleled. Every time she puts the ball in play, she’s a threat to reach base. She consistently collects infield hits, and her pace often forces opposing infielders to make poor throws on what would normally be easy outs.
Her game-changing speed was on display last week.
Against Western Michigan last Tuesday, the Wolverine bats were struggling to produce runs until Milian stepped to the plate. She slapped a pitch up the middle and hustled to first, narrowly beating the throw. After reaching third base, she was knocked home by senior Tiffany Haas, posting what proved to be the game-winning tally. Michigan coach Carol Hutchins called Milian’s play “a game changer.”
“My job at the bottom of the lineup is to set up for the top of the lineup,” Milian said. “You kind of start off the offense to set the table for the bigger hitters coming up.”
Milian put on another basepath show Saturday against Indiana. In the second inning, Milian reached first on an infield chopper to the pitcher. She got down the line so quickly that Hoosier pitcher Megan Roark didn’t even make an attempt to throw her out.
Unfortunately for Indiana, Milian’s infield single wasn’t all she had in store that inning. She stole second base with ease, but found herself in a pickle after trying to tag up following freshman Teddi Ewing’s fly out to centerfield.
She jockeyed in between the two bags as Hoosier infielders threw back and forth, closing in on her. Eventually, Milian made her break and slid into second. There was a moment’s silence as the crowd waited for the call. When the umpire signaled safe, Michigan fans erupted in applause.
“She’s an excellent baserunner,” senior catcher Becky Marx said. “Baserunning isn’t something you just pick up. You’ve got to work hard at it, and she definitely does.”
Milian utilizes her speed on both sides of the ball. Defensively, she is consistent and hasn’t committed an error from her spot in leftfield in more than two seasons. In each of the past two Women’s College World Series, she has come up with clutch catches on the run that a less athletic player couldn’t have made.
“If the ball is hit her way, I can count on her to catch it,” Marx said. “And her throws are right on the dot.”
But don’t be mistaken, Milian is not a one-dimensional player. She has more than just her legs to thank for her spot in the starting lineup. She ranks fifth on the team in batting average with a .282 mark, and her on-base percentage is a solid .307.
In the past 13 games, she has boosted her batting average by nearly .040s, sparked by a 6-for-13 weekend at the Louisville Classic. The Wolverines won 12 of those 13 games.
“Her work ethic is ridiculous,” Marx said. “You want a bunch of Rebekah Milians out there.”