Fearless Kolly continuing to flourish as young star with Inland Lakes baseball
INDIAN RIVER – Ty Kolly doesn’t mind doing the little things.
With the Inland Lakes baseball team needing a key insurance run against Mancelona, the sophomore’s mindset wasn’t to blast one out of the park. It was about getting a runner home, something he successfully did by laying down a bunt and reaching first base safely.
It was another team-first moment from a talented young player who’s hit the ground running since joining the varsity as a freshman. For most inexperienced varsity players, it takes time to develop into a standout. It hasn’t taken long for Kolly, a rock-solid second baseman who made the All-Ski Valley first team last year.
MARLEY COUTURE: Four years on varsity, Couture the perfect spark plug for Cheboygan softball team
CONNOR WALLACE: Wallace's pitching greatness on full display in final act with Inland Lakes baseball
“Stepping up as a young guy, you’ve got to have no fear,” Kolly said. “When the team kind of needs you, you’ve got to step up. It meant a lot (to join the varsity as a freshman), I try to put in the time, and I just like being on varsity.”
Since his first varsity games until now, great progression has been shown by Kolly, who’s batting close to .400 on the season and has continued to play second, the same position he’s occupied since he was a youngster. Nearly two seasons in, Kolly is one of those players who’s showing that the future is bright for an already-established program.
“Ty is a phenomenal player,” Inland Lakes coach Josh Vieau said. “He’s another kid we’ve built this program around, hard work, energy. He just does the small things right. He’ll do anything you ask him to do. He’s one of those players that grinds it out. He’s going to be a leader of this team and be a very special kid in the future for us.
“I’m on him pretty hard about being better than what he is. He’s very coachable, and he’s a phenomenal athlete. Dusty (Saker) and I are very fortunate to have him as a sophomore.”
What’s also benefited Kolly is seeing quality leadership from the upperclassmen he plays the game with every single day. So, he made sure to credit those guys for helping him improve as a player.
“They’re always leading us the right way, showing us how to play the game, how to be leaders, how to act right,” Kolly said. “They always want us to stay positive after things get down, don’t let the highs get too high, don’t let the lows get too low. I’m learning from the top guys we got right now, the seniors, and trying to replicate what they’re doing.”
With some terrific seniors graduating this spring, Kolly looks to be next in line to lead a program that wants to sustain its success. For the coaches, they’re quite confident he’s the person for that job.
LAITH GRIFFITH: Pellston speedster Laith Griffith to continue track and field career at Davenport
EMILY CLARK: 'It kind of felt like a family': Cheboygan's Clark to play golf at University of Olivet
“He knows where he’s at, he knows his role, and he knows one day it’s going to be his team, and he embraces that,” Vieau said. “He’ll take over just fine. He’ll leave the program better than he found it, just like Connor (Wallace) and Jake (Willey) and Payton (Teuthorn). You can’t say enough about these kids.”
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Only a sophomore, Kolly a key part of Inland Lakes baseball's future
