Steve Cox
7/27/2026
Photo Cutline: Fort Defiance graduate Tripp Hanger (left) received the Dave Miller Memorial Scholarship on Sunday at Staunton Elks Lodge#351 from Miller family – Caroline Miller, Robbie Miller and Tee Miller.
STAUNTON – Fort Defiance graduate Tripp Hanger was the recipient of the Dave Miller Memorial Scholarship, presented Sunday afternoon at the Staunton Elks Lodge following the completion of the memorial golf tournament that supports the scholarship fund.
Sixty golfers played in the annual tournament, honoring the memory of Dave Miller, a huge advocate of youth sports in Staunton, especially baseball. Miller passed away in 2021.
Each year the Miller family, with the support of Staunton Elks Lodge #351, presents a scholarship to a high school baseball player in the Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County area who plans to continue playing the sport in college.
This year’s recipient of the $2,500 scholarship was Hanger, who recently completed a stellar career at Fort Defiance and plans to play next season at West Virginia Tech. At WVU-Tech, Hanger will be coached by Lawrence Nesselrodt, a former head coach of the Staunton Braves and Waynesboro Generals.
In the opening game of his high school senior season, Hanger was hit in the eye by a line drive while pitching for the Indians against Turner Ashby. His baseball future was in question, but Hanger returned late in the season and helped the Indians earn a spot in the Region B baseball tournament. In his first game back after being sidelined for much of the season, Hanger belted a home run.
Hanger was honored with a spot of the All-Shenandoah District first team and the All-Region 2B second team.
