WINTERSVILLE - Ty Yocom realized that not playing baseball in college would not be a good thing.
After being questioned by Indian Creek baseball coach Mike Cottis and considerable thought about what the future holds, Yocom will continue his playing career at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he will major in communcations and be a member of coach Terry Edwards' baseball team.
"When coach Cottis asked me last winter, I was kind of iffy on it," Yocom said. "The more I thought about not playing, it kind of upset me because I've been playing it seems like every single day for the past 12 years and it's something that I wanted to continue for the next four years.
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TO BE A CARDINAL — Indian Creek graduate Ty Yocom, flanked by his parents Rob and Tamy, will continue his academic and athletic careers at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he will major in communcations and be a member of the baseball team. Also on hand for the signing were Indian Creek Principal Steve Cowser and baseball coach Mike Cottis.
-- Mike Mathison
"I was leaning more toward West Liberty, but I went down and talked to coach Edwards and I fell in love with the school. I talked to (former Redskins baseball player) Adam Young and he told me how great of a school it is. They have a great baseball field down there and I think that coach Edwards has a mentality to win every day, get better every day and have fun with the players."
Yocom is the sixth Indian Creek player to play for the Cardinals. The 2012 roster had more than a dozen players from the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference on the squad.
"That made the decision a lot easier," Yocom said of the number of familiar faces. "I know how a lot of the guys play down there from Legion and high school ball. They are down there playing their best and that will help push me to go down there and play my best."
"Coach Edwards having that many kids from the area on the team is a testament to how well baseball has maintained around here for all the years, and he banks on good programs here," said Cottis. "Just in the OVAC, we have some quality programs with quality kids.
"I think Terry trusts our program and we trust him. I know Ty is going into good hands."
Yocom was a four-year letterman for the Redskins. He played here and there as a freshman, and was the second baseman the last three seasons.
He finished with a .363 average with 78 hits, 61 walks, 52 RBIs, 57 runs scored, 14 doubles and three home runs.
"Coach Edwards is getting, first and foremost, a competitor, and getting someone who is dedicated to playing," said Cottis. "Ty has the baseball mentality and the build for baseball. Obviously, being a four-year letterman, we counted on him a lot."
Yocom finished his senior year with a .392 average with 21 RBIs, 29 hits and 24 runs scored.
"I want to be the first person in my family to play college athletics and graduate," he said. "I'll play wherever they need me, wherever it takes to get me on the field. Whatever coach Edwards wants, I'll do."
Yocom knows he didn't get to this point alone.
"I want to thank my mom," he said. "I also want to thank my dad, coach Cottis and coach Sam Davis from Richmond Legion. I know I get hard to deal with sometimes and I want to thank coach Cottis and coach Davis for putting up with me for four years now.
"They all have taught me a lot."
