The buzz around the Lebanon High School baseball program began long before the first pitch of the new season. Senior Cole Milliken returned from a summer that saw him post an on‑base plus slugging (OPS) figure well above the 1.000 mark, a statistic that instantly placed him among the most potent hitters in the region.
A Summer to Remember
First‑year head coach Alex Wheeler, who took the job largely because of the excitement surrounding Milliken’s potential, described the player as a cornerstone of the team’s future. Wheeler said the summer numbers were a clear indicator that the school was on the right track.
The coaching staff built the offseason program around maximizing Milliken’s strengths, blending power hitting drills with base‑running aggressiveness. The result was a performance that not only impressed teammates but also attracted attention from local scouts eager to see how the senior would translate his summer success to the structured high school schedule.
Heading into the first few games, however, Milliken’s numbers have not yet matched the lofty standards he set over the summer. Early‑season matchups have produced a batting average that sits below his summer average, prompting the player to reflect on the adjustment period required when moving from summer league competition to the structured high school schedule.
Despite the slower start, both Milliken and Wheeler remain optimistic. Wheeler emphasized that the early games are as much about building chemistry as they are about raw statistics, and that the senior’s work ethic during the offseason provides a solid foundation for a turnaround as the season progresses.
Fans and alumni have taken note of the excitement, with many recalling the last time a Lebanon High player generated such a level of anticipation. The community’s support is expected to grow as the team finds its rhythm, and Milliken’s eventual resurgence could become a defining story of the season.