Community Champion: Las Cruces native and Men’s College World Series National Champion, Steven Milam

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Centennial High grad, Steven Milam, helped the LSU Tigers to a College World Series National title after defeating Coastal Carolina in game two, 5-3, on Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska.

"It's everything you dream of as a kid," Milam said. "We all manifested it and we went out there and did it. It's crazy, I can't even describe it right now. Hopefully it'll hit me more soon."

In only two seasons of playing college baseball with the LSU Tigers, Milam's success and accolades indicates that he's one of the best baseball players to come out of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

So far in his career he's recorded 19 homeruns, 97 RBI and finished his freshman season with the 2024 First Team Freshman All-American honor.

In game one of the college world series championship, Milam recorded an RBI that would ultimately be the run that would lead LSU to a 1-0 win over Coastal Carolina.

The next day, Milam become a national champion as the Tigers claimed a 5-3 win in game two of the College World Series.

Milam played second base his freshman year however in his second season, was moved to shortstop.

"Being the shortstop is for me is special," Milam said. "To think about the shortstops before me, you just have to take great pride in it."

A position that Alex Bregman, a Las Cruces native and current Red Sox third baseman, played for with LSU back in 2014.

Towards the end of Milam's freshman year, he had to overcome a foot injury.

"It was rough," Milam said. "I went to play for the U.S. National team last year in the summer after I broke my foot but I got sent home because I hit the bag and it messed up my foot. I tried my best to stay mentally in. The desire to get back out there was strong because that's all I know."

Milam has overcome much adversity and plans to play for one more year with the Tigers before entering the MLB draft.

"I plan to stay at shortstop and then leave after this year for the draft," Milam said. "I have no doubt in my mind I'll be a big leaguer and an All-Star and make an impact in the MLB one day, but right now I'm just taking in this moment. I want to try to win another National Championship and then take it one step at a time."

Milam has depended on his family's support to get him to where he is now.

"Back home people would say that my parents were crazy for pushing me so hard," Milam said. "My dad was hard on me, but I don't want to live a normal life. That's what I'm going to keep on choosing, so I'm grateful that they've been able to be there throughout every single part of it. I got a National Championship and that's a memory I'll have forever for the rest of my life."