EAST LIVERPOOL, OH-  In an inspiring episode of YSN’s *EAST LIVERPOOL PLAYER PROFILE*, host DJ Yokley had the privilege to sit down with Evan Tice, a young man who has etched his name in the annals of East Liverpool pride. This June, Tice will become the first ever four-time YSN All-Star in any sport. His time as the double-nickel backstop for the East Liverpool Potters has been nothing short of legendary.

Reflecting on his senior year and the journey that brought him to this point, Tice shared his primary objective for the season. “I wanted to leave my mark at East Liverpool. I wanted to be remembered even after I was gone. And I wanted to do something special for not only this school, but this baseball program,” he affirmed.

When asked if the reality of his final game in a Potter blue uniform had set in, Tice admitted, “I don’t think they really fully set in yet, but last night was very upsetting. It was sad seeing my fellow kids in my class and my teammates being the last time on the field with them. But I’m grateful for the experience I had and the opportunities I’ve had with East Liverpool.

A crucial part of Tice’s journey involved his aspirations to play Division I baseball. Yet, the road to achieving this dream was far from smooth. “I had a couple D1 looks here and there, but I never really got nothing major. I committed to Mercyhurst as a Division II powerhouse,” Tice recounted. However, fate had different plans, and shortly after he committed, Mercyhurst transitioned to a Division I program. “I saw a tweet the day of that they posted and…about 30 minutes later, they announced they were moving. It was like, I could have not hit the lottery any better.”

Despite the obstacles, Tice’s determination and hard work bore fruit. “Just to work hard. Everyone knows I’m a hard worker and to not give up,” he advised aspiring athletes. “Even at the end of the day, if I didn’t get the offer I wanted…I still would have showed the other coaches that they missed out on something.”

Tice never walked his journey alone. When speaking about his support system, his gratitude was palpable. “East Liverpool has been a big support system for me, pushing me and always having my back… One being my family, my parents, my cousins, my uncles, my aunts, all of them have pushed me,” he shared. “And another has been my coaches…they keep supporting me throughout the way. So it means a lot to me knowing I have a big team behind my back throughout this whole journey.”

As Tice gears up for his transition to Mercyhurst, his goals remain uncompromised. “I want to finish the Tice legacy in East Liverpool and have my own business and run it,” he revealed. Studying business management seems to be a natural fit, given his family’s background in entrepreneurship. “My dad owns a business. I started my own business a couple years ago. I want to take it over and do something with it.”

Leaving behind a legacy not just on the field but also in his community, Tice reflected on the impending end of his high school chapter. “After the YSN game, taking off [the jersey] one last time is just gonna finish the story, and then I get to move on to the next chapter of my life in my baseball career.”

With the YSN All-Star game on the horizon, Tice will wear his East Liverpool jersey for one final time and aims to lead by example. “I want to kind of be that leader for the kids that are there for their first time this year, and the kids that are nervous. I want to be there for them and make them know it’s okay. And this is all just for fun,” he said.

Tice’s story is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of community support. As he moves on to bigger arenas, the legacy he leaves behind will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of East Liverpool Potters.

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