Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Tice Selected To USA Baseball Team
PRAIRIE GROVE SENIOR MAKES USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM IDENTIFICATION SERIES
PRAIRIE GROVE — Ty Tice was born into a world of sports which fascinated him as an infant and he has been discovering deeper realms of the sporting world as he matures.
Sandy Statham, Ty’s grandmother, recalls Ty was born in July and was just months old when the excitement of watching sports on TV captured his attention.
“He was literally watching football on television. I’ve never seen a child do that,” Statham said. “He didn’t want Sesame Street or Big Bird or anything else — what he wanted was football.”
“His first word was ‘ ball,’ not mom or dad and he was shooting baskets before he could walk.”
Jason Tice, Ty’s father, is a fan of all kinds of sports which exposed Ty to various competitions and drew the boy’s attention.
“Any sport and every sport that was pretty much on he always liked to watch games when he was itty bitty,” said Jason Tice, who remembers before his son had learned to stand up he would occupy himself by throwing things into Little Tikes’ basketball goals. Shooting the basketball accurately became a challenge for young Ty to master. At 10 years of age he would not go to bed until he had made 100 3-pointers.
“He’s always been demanding of himself. He wants to be the best,” Statham said. “That was his discipline.”
Ty and younger brother Cole shoot baskets together or play catch but sometimes get carried away.
“We both get kind of competitive and don’t like to agree with one another,” Ty said.
Cole said the greatest thing about having Ty as a big brother is getting to go to all the games.
Baseball, too, became one of Ty’s pursuits and became the sport he wants to pursue at the college level. This summer a local tryout for the USA Baseball 17 and under National Team Identification Series was held at Baum Stadium on the campus of the University of Arkansas and Ty jumped at the chance to play in front of college coaches, including Dave Van Horn of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The family was pleasantly surprised when Ty was selected among a group of 25 Arkansas players chosen to compete against teams from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma at the midwest regional. Arkansas did well and Ty was one of 18 players picked to go on to national competition at Cary, N. C. Ty and his father leave today and return on Sunday.
“It’s exciting, it’s just another opportunity to play baseball at a high level. It’s what I like to do,” Ty said, noting the team will play against Cuba among other opponents.
“It will be fun. They’ll play some good competition from other regions,” Jason Tice said.
The family thinks Ty’s work ethic is what empowers him to take his game to the next level. For Jason Tice this is the trait which impresses him most about his son which he said sparks a desire to get better and continually improve. Above all, Jason Tice said Ty is a team player.
“He’s always done whatever he could for the team to try and make them better. Whatever needs to be done, he’s willing to do it.”
Prairie Grove baseball coach Mitch Cameron agrees noting Ty made All-Conference and All-State for the Tigers as a junior in 2013.
“The kid can flat out play, he’s very athletic. He’s the guy that all of us coaches want. I want my team to be dirtbags, to dive, slide, whatever it takes to get the job done. He works hard at it so he deserves it.”
Ty has verbally committed to UCA baseball and enjoys support of multiple generations as three sets of grandparents, including Statham and her husband, Larry; Jerry and Jaimie Tice; and Carolyn and Phil Hudspeth; plus Ty’s immediate family regularly gather among Tiger fans to witness his athletic exploits at Prairie Grove.
“It’s nice to have that support and to know that everybody up there is behind you,” Ty said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Ty frequently has Statham beaming in the stands.
“Ty is a remarkable young man and continues to pleasantly surprise me with just how remarkable he is.”
Statham said one of the neat things about USA Baseball is the program is not merely trying to acquire the best athletes but is also seeking out young men of good character.
“His mom [Tracy Tice] and I try to help him with that,” Jason Tice said. “I hope that he makes good decisions and has high character.”
Cameron said a lot of guys make the second round but to reach the third round is pretty awesome.
“It’s a very big tribute to his work ethic.”
Statham believes in her grandson and thinks Ty is on a good path.
“The boys are selected not just for their baseball performance but for their character and how they help the team on and off the field. That makes me even prouder of him. It’s not just baseball but it’s who Ty is.”