When Stealing Is Good

RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Ty Shaver (seated, center) recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Okla. Front row right to left: James Shaver (dad), Ty Shaver and Christina Shaver (mom). Back row: MCHS baseball coaches Kellen Hoover, Nick Martin and Bo Bergen.
RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Ty Shaver (seated, center) recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Okla. Front row right to left: James Shaver (dad), Ty Shaver and Christina Shaver (mom). Back row: MCHS baseball coaches Kellen Hoover, Nick Martin and Bo Bergen.

Ty Shaver stole his way to college. Shaver recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville.

The slightly-built centerfielder for the McDonald County High School baseball team this past season is not a power hitter by any stretch of the imagination. Shaver had 23 hits in 76 bats for a .303 average, but only two of those were for extra-base hits.

But those 21 singles, or by reaching by one of the eight walks along with getting hit by a pitch seven more times (for an on-base average of .418), would turn into a double more times than not.

Shaver wasn't at first for long. More often than not, Shaver was off on the first pitch, racking a school-record 28 stolen bases in 29 attempts, an amazing success rate of .966 percent.

Shaver said he had wanted to play baseball in college ever since he could remember.

"I am glad that I am getting to go play baseball at a fantastic school," Shaver said. "All the hard work I put in the past four years has paid off. I want to thank my parents for helping me all these years. I would also like to thank Coach Martin (Nick Martin) for putting in the work with me the past five years since junior high baseball and getting me to the point where I can continue playing in college."

Shaver is the son of James and Christina Shaver, of Tiff City.

Shaver said coaches at Oklahoma Wesleyan saw his profile online and contacted him about playing.

"They like my stats and I went and visited and talked to Coach Parker (Matt Parker, who recently resigned)," Shaver said. "They liked what I had to offer and I liked what they had to offer, so it just kind of worked out."

Shaver said after the May 23 resignation of Parker, he was contacted by new coach Kirk Kelley and was told everything was the same as before.

Awards received at MCHS include Newcomer of the Year, second team all-conference and Mickey Mantle Classic All-Tournament Team.

"Ty was a huge weapon and asset at the top of the lineup," Martin said. "When he got on base, he made us go. With him on base, it would put pressure on the defense and we would usually score some runs. I think he has a good opportunity to play at this level because of his speed. He probably has a chance to run the bases as a freshman."

Martin said, in addition to the use of his speed on offense, Shaver could run balls down in the outfield.

"Ty could go get the baseball from gap-to-gap," Martin said. "He is pretty good out there. I wish him the best of luck."

Shaver, who was academic letterman and named to the honor roll at MCHS, will major in business at Oklahoma Wesleyan. At MCHS, he was also a Mustang Ambassador and took part in Character Education.

Sports on 06/07/2018