Published: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 / Updated: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 07:01 AM

Three from Fort Mill sign letters of intent

FORT MILL — Success brings rewards, and playing sports at Fort Mill High School often pays off for those who chose to do so.

Three more Yellow Jackets found that out Wednesday by signing letters of intent to continue their educations and playing days at the next level.

Tyler Miller signed to play baseball at USC Upstate, Tyler Vukoder is headed to play soccer at College of Charleston and Hallie Wright will run cross country at Newberry.

Miller, a speedy centerfielder, had talked with Clemson and had hopes of going there. But the offer didn't come and he jumped at the opportunity to play at USC Upstate in Spartanburg.

The coaches from Upstate noticed Miller last summer playing for the South Charlotte Panthers. Last spring he batted over .400 for Fort Mill, had multiple extra-base hits and had a fielding percentage of 1.000.

"They made an offer and I took it,'' said Miller, the son of Mike and Leslie Miller. "The coaches told me I have a chance to start my freshman year, so I'll do what I can do.''

Miller plans to major in criminal justice.

Vukoder, a defender, is the third Herald-area soccer player to sign with College of Charleston, joining Northwestern's Robbie Benson and Shawn Ferguson, who signed last Thursday.

"I visited there my junior year, but they didn't offer me a scholarship in the summer,'' said Vukoder, the son of Barry and Carol Vukoder. "It worked out well because Charleston is my favorite place to go.

"They have two senior defenders coming back and they said there is a possibility I'll get to play my first year. I like the chances of that, and it's why I feel this is a good opportunity."

Vukoder's second choice was Wofford. He also talked to VMI and UNC Greensboro. He said one of the perks of playing for College of Charleston is coming back home to play the Winthrop Challenge at Manchester Meadows.

He is undecided on his major.

Wright, the daughter of Kim and Doug Wright, said running for Fort Mill's team that finished second in the state last fall helped her get noticed.

"We had a lot of good runners on the team and that made me push harder," she said. "Now I'll get to see what I do when I get to college.

"Newberry has a small team, maybe 10 runners, but they have done well in their conference. I picked them because the school has small classes. I plan to major in forensic chemistry.''