After two years at Auburn University, former Daviess County High School standout Millie Roberts is transferring to Arizona State University to continue her softball career and begin graduate school.
Roberts, who graduated from Auburn in December with a degree in health administration, was recently accepted into ASU’s graduate program for health administration and policy. She said academics played a big role in her decision to transfer.
“I didn’t really want to leave Auburn just because I loved the girls and the coaches and Auburn in general,” Roberts said. “But I ended up not being able to move forward with an MBA there because they wanted individuals with more work experience. That was a shock to me and my coaches, and it was a really rough decision.”
Roberts entered the transfer portal in the middle of the season — a rare move in college softball — while completing an internship in Washington, D.C. She used that time to explore her options before ultimately committing to Arizona State after a campus visit.
“I committed this weekend. I went out there on a visit, and I’ve been talking to them a little bit,” she said. “I’m really excited. I’m starting out there in the fall, and I think I might report a little earlier to start training in the summer.”
Roberts said her connection to Arizona State began years ago through current assistant coach Josh Bloomer, who gave her hitting lessons while coaching at Louisville’s Male High School.
“I’ve always known him, and that kind of got things started,” she said. “My main goal now is just to be developed as a hitter and to get comfortable again, having fun playing softball.”
Roberts served primarily as a pinch hitter in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She said the mental challenge of not playing consistently was tough but also rewarding.
“I definitely got developed as a player over this past fall with the coaching change. They really helped me out,” she said. “Those coaches are going to do a lot with that program, and I’m excited to see how it flourishes.”
Roberts, who took some reps at third base at Auburn and caught when needed, said she’s open to playing wherever she’s needed at ASU. She hopes to contribute both with her bat and defensively as the Sun Devils continue building under head coach Megan Bartlett.
“The coaching staff is really knowledgeable, and I’m excited to be developed as a player and have people buy into me,” she said. “It’s a great program, and the fan base is insane. It’s a softball school — the community is invested, and that’s something that was really important to me.”
Roberts was a star at Daviess County High School, where she graduated in 2022. She set the program’s career home run record with 36 and earned First Team All-State honors from the Kentucky Softball Coaches Association.
She said she’s looking forward to returning home to Owensboro this summer before making the move out west.
“I’ll be home in May, and hopefully I’ll get to catch a couple of Daviess County games,” Roberts said. “I still have a lot of support back home, and I’m grateful for that.”
