Inspired by the MAC title run of last season, freshman Troy Black joins his brother, Ty, on Ohio's roster.
Troy Black was scheduled to walk across the stage at his Waynesville High School graduation on May 24.
His baseball teammates were planning to wear matching T-shirts that day to commemorate their run to the state title.
But, when the names of the graduating seniors were announced, Troy was nowhere to be found.
On a day he was supposed to be celebrating his own accomplishments, he was celebrating his brother’s. Ty Black and the Bobcats had just won their first Mid-American Conference title since 1997 in Avon, Ohio, and Troy was there to witness.
“I figured that was more important than walking across a stage,” Troy said.
One year later, Troy and Ty find themselves on the same Ohio team searching for its second-consecutive conference title.
It’s not the first time Troy and Ty have been on the same team either. They played varsity football, basketball and baseball together for two years in Waynesville, Ohio.
Troy, who is two years younger than his brother, was the quarterback on the football team while Ty was a wide receiver.
Now, they’re in quite a different position.
Ty, a junior infielder under manager Rob Smith, is going into his third year as a starter on the Ohio squad. He was crucial to the team’s tournament run in 2015, hitting .251 with 21 RBIs last year.
He was just named MAC Player of the Week for his nine-hit performance against UNC Asheville this past weekend.
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On the other side of the spectrum, Troy is just transitioning into college life, going from playing three varsity sports in high school to focusing just on baseball.
For help, Troy looks to Ty.
“It’s always different being away from (home) for the first time,” Ty said. “I know he doesn’t like to admit it, but he really does miss his mom every now and then. Having me here, I think he’s at an advantage.”
Troy and Ty aren’t the first pair of brothers to play on Ohio.
Nate and Nick Squires and Corey and Tyler Wells played under Smith on the 2014 squad. Nick and Tyler Plys played together during their freshman year in 2012, as well.
It’s clear, however, that the Black brothers relationship extends past their play on the field.
They’re nearly identical, even more accentuated by the fact they’re always sporting a baseball cap.
They’re both loud. The team always looks to Troy and Ty when it gets too quiet.
“We come from a loud family,” Ty said.
The most obvious thing about the two: They love to joke around with each other.
Ty yells at Troy to hurry up when he lags behind. Troy shoots verbal jabs right back to his brother.
“Obviously, I’m a little bit more in shape than him,” he said as Ty laughed.
This season is no laughing matter to the two of them though.
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Ty will be looking to lead Ohio to a second-straight MAC title, while his younger brother will look to earn some playing time.
As for advice, Ty’s words to Troy were almost perfect for a player on a team that went from worst-to-first in just one season.
The Bobcats won just 11 games in 2014 before making an NCAA tournament run last spring.
“Work as hard as you can and do what you’re supposed to do and things will fall into place,” Ty said.
Now that Troy is in Athens, the brothers will be around for each other's accomplishments.
ef684013@ohio.edu
@efelderstein14
