Oliver Service is a three-sport star joining Texas baseball
DETROIT (BVM) 鈥� Oliver Service, a Texas baseball commit, has been in the spotlight since before he was a teenager.
During the 2018 Little League World Series (LLWS), he scored the game-winning run for Team Michigan to beat Team Iowa. On his 13th birthday just two days later, the future Longhorn launched a to left field in front of a crowd fit for Big 12 baseball.
For Service, it was an experience that helped shape his bright future in the sport.
鈥淚n the moment, you don鈥檛 even realize how big it is and you鈥檙e kind of just going through the motions,鈥� Service said of his LLWS experience. 鈥淏ut after the game is over, you see yourself on TV and realize how many people were actually there, it all starts to sink in, like, that really just happened.
鈥淚 was also like 12 years old at the time so I didn鈥檛 really know how big it was but looking back, honestly, those couple moments kind of shaped my baseball career to what it is today.鈥�
Happy Birthday, Oliver Service! 馃嵃
— Little League (@LittleLeague)
Service鈥檚 baseball career has been in ascension since his LLWS debut, but the Detroit native is too talented to be confined to just one sport. A three-sport athlete at University Liggett High School, Service plays football in the fall, hockey in the winter and baseball all year round.
A 198-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance from Service on the gridiron back in October is a good indication of his elite athleticism. He even became the first player in school history to record a kick return TD, punt return TD, defensive TD and offensive TD all in the same game.
Go Knights! Blessed to make school history doing something that hasn't been done before (see article猬囷笍). Video of all 4 TDs. My all purpose yds for the game was 286 yds.
— Oliver Service (@service_oliver)
Meanwhile, his hat trick on the ice in early March crystallizes his freakish ability.
Here are the three goals that made the Oliver Service on Monday night vs. Marysville. The Knights are looking to be even better against Independent School rival, DCDS tonight! 馃彃
— University Liggett Athletics (@LiggettSports)
Service admits that playing three sports at a high level is a challenge, but the benefits of being versatile and well-rounded aren鈥檛 lost on him.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a grind,鈥� Service said of juggling three sports. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to balance but it鈥檚 only preparing me for what I have next in store. I think it鈥檚 a good thing that I鈥檓 doing it and it keeps me balanced, not focusing completely on one sport.
鈥淏eing able to do multiple things at once has really helped me with my athleticism and being able to do different movements. It also makes me less susceptible to injury I feel. Being a three-sport athlete, I think more people should do it. You just have to have the right mindset to want to do it.鈥�
One of the most athletic prospects in is
3锔忊儯 Sport 猸愶笍
Baseball – Football – Hockey
— Minority Baseball Prospects (@MBPTakeover)
As talented as Service is, it just might be that mindset that sets him apart from other elite high school baseball players around the state and country.
A three-year baseball starter for Liggett, Service helped lead the Knights to a 2021 Division 3 state title before being named an all-state player last year. The 6-foot, 190-pound catcher batted .410 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs in 2022 (numbers include his travel season with Little Caesar Baseball).
It鈥檚 part of the reason Service is a top 10 player in Michigan鈥檚 Class of 2023, according to , and his high IQ behind the plate makes him a pitcher鈥檚 dream.
鈥淭he best part about it (playing catcher) is being able to make my teammates look good, especially the pitcher,鈥� Service said. 鈥淭he pitcher can be having a rough day but that鈥檚 my job to go out there and let him know that it鈥檚 just me and you, have some fun, you know, help him kind of find control of the game.
鈥淭hat leadership role as a catcher is what makes catching so fun to me.鈥�
Michigan 2023 C/OF Oliver Service () puts this throw on the money & hammered pitches at our Main Event. commit
— New Balance 饾棛饾槀饾榿饾槀饾椏饾棽 饾棪饾榿饾棶饾椏饾榾 饾棪饾棽饾椏饾椂饾棽饾榾 (@ftrstarsseries)
While Service can lead and excel in just about any sport he tries, there鈥檚 just something different about baseball for him. It鈥檚 arguably the most difficult sport to master and the Liggett senior is enamored by it.
鈥淢ost people see baseball as kind of a slow-paced, boring game to watch, but for me, honestly, every minute on the field is just fun,鈥� Service said. 鈥淓specially me being a catcher, I love every moment of it. Even the highs and the lows, I鈥檓 here for it all because no matter what happens, I鈥檓 going to love this game.
鈥淏aseball isn鈥檛 easy, that鈥檚 for sure, but no matter what happens, I stick with it and I haven鈥檛 been drawn away from it either. The love of the game just drives me and drives me and drives me like no other.鈥�
Service will bring his love for the game to Austin after he committed to the University of Texas last January. The future Longhorn said he visited a handful of schools but the Texas coaching staff and its communication sold him on the program.
I'm grateful to post my commitment to further my academic and athletic career at the University of Texas. Thank you to the UT coaches for this opportunity. Thanks to my family, all of my coaches, & friends for supporting me through my baseball journey. Hook鈥檈m 馃馃
— Oliver Service (@service_oliver)
The conversations between Service and Texas head coach David Pierce鈥檚 staff aren鈥檛 even always about baseball. Sometimes they鈥檙e about football, hockey and everything in between. Service has already felt the love from his future coaching staff and the fanbase that鈥檒l cheer him on Austin.
Longhorn fans have made it clear via Twitter how happy they are to have Service committed to Texas, and he鈥檚 ready to repay the favor with some hardwood.
鈥淢y goal is to win a national championship (at Texas),鈥� Service said. 鈥淔rom the day I step foot on campus, that鈥檚 my goal. Just grind it out, do whatever I can to help the team make it and win.鈥�
It鈥檚 baseball time!!! 3 Run Double, & another extra base hit at the in Hoover with great competition. 1st games for the 2023 season. 鈦︹仼 鈦︹仼 鈦︹仼 鈦︹仼
— Oliver Service (@service_oliver)
