Tyler Bloom began playing basketball and baseball at an early age in Seymour and stuck with both sports throughout his high school career.

All that hard worked paid off for the senior as he earned a starting spot for the Owls’ boys basketball team this past season, and he also plans to be on the mound as much as possible this spring.

“I played mostly a 3 (small forward) with Alan (Perry) and Jordan (Miller) running the 1 and 2 positions,” said Bloom, who also started some basketball games as a junior.

He said he felt comfortable shooting from either the right wing or the left wing.

“It’s didn’t matter which side I shot from, shooting a ‘3’ was my favorite thing to do,” Bloom said. “Most games that’s where I scored all my points.”

Bloom finished in double figures 13 times this season, scoring 20 or more on five occasions with a high of 28 at Austin. He averaged 12.9 points per game for the season.

He said if the defense guarded him too close, he felt comfortable driving to the basket.

“I could do that if I needed to, but usually I had enough room to get the shot off from the 3-point line,” Bloom said. “If they’re not on you, you can reverse the ball, and get them out of rotation. It leaves a wide open shot.

“Transition was a big part of our offense. If we could get our transition going that is when we were at our best.”

Bloom, who began playing basketball in second or third grade at the Boys and Girls Club of a Seymour, said he particularly enjoyed the home games.

“This place was crazy to play in,” he said of playing in the 8,110-plus seat Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium.

“Not everybody has a chance to play in something like this. That sectional game was packed, and there is nothing else like it.”

Bloom said while he enjoyed the win at Austin, where he hit five 3-pointers, his highlight game was the sectional win against Jeffersonville.

“Austin was good individually because that was my career-high scoring, and it was good for the team,” he said. “It was a good win, but overall Jeffersonville was the best win of my career.

“We hadn’t won a sectional game for 10 years, and we were down by 10 at one time, and I hit the game-tying shot, and that was crazy. That was probably the loudest I’ve heard it in quite a while for our games at least.”

He said his favorite away gymnasium is Brownstown Central.

“I like playing there because usually when we play there it’s always packed,” Bloom said. “I like playing in close-type gyms. It makes it louder, and I like how it’s a ‘bowl shape.’

He said this past year of basketball was his favorite.

“There were some bad games we lost that we thought we should have won and we didn’t, including both Jennings County games,” Bloom said. “Beating East and Bedford were two big games.

He said he also hope to have success in baseball.

Bloom, who pitched and played a lot of third base a year ago, said he expects to pitch a lot and play either at first base or second base this spring.

“I’ll pitch, but I think I’m moving away from third,” he said. “I’ll play some at first base and may play at second when Satoshi (Hirose) is pitching. Pitching is my favorite thing to do on the baseball field. I throw a fastball, change up and curve ball. My curve ball is my No. 1.”

Bloom said he needs to work on his control.

“It’s really important to get ahead in the count,” he said. “That’s what I struggled with last year. Coach (Jeremy) Richey, Coach Elvis (Hernandez) and I think I’m going to be better at it. Going into the count when you’re up 0-1 you’re in control and you can throw whatever pitch you want.”

When not pitching, Bloom said he’s ready to play the right side of the field.

“I like playing first even though I haven’t had much experience playing there,” he said. “I just feel what I’m best at is playing first. It’s going to take a while to get used to, but I think once I get the hang of it I’ll be all right.”

Bloom said he also hopes to move up in the batting order this season.

“I batted in the bottom half of the lineup and I hit .300,” he said. “Nothing too outstanding, but I got the job done when I needed to. I’d like to be around the fifth spot so I could help the team out and I’d be confident in that position.”

He considers himself a contact hitter and not a power hitter.

“I just like getting on base,” Bloom said. “One of the things Coach Richey talks about is when you go up there be ready to hit. Most pitchers in high school are going to throw a fastball probably right down the middle to try to get ahead in the count, so if you’re ready for it you just step back and hit it.”

Bloom said he enjoys the home games.

“I love playing at home,” he said. “Our facilities are outstanding.”

He said playing with a travel team out of Indianapolis was a good experience.

“There is stuff in travel ball that they teach you that don’t get in high school,” Bloom said and added that Hirose also was a member of that team.

Bloom said his highlight win in baseball was beating Columbus North last season.

“My highlight victory was definitely the Columbus North game. I think we were down three runs and I came in to pitch, and my team helped me out and I was able to close out the game and get the win.”

He said for the Owls to have a winning season it is going to take teamwork. “We’ve got to play together.”

Bloom said attending Seymour High School has been amazing.

“I have fun every day coming here and see my friends and I love the teachers and everything,” he said.

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Name: Tyler Bloom

School: Seymour High School

Parents: LeeAnn and David Bloom Jr.

Siblings: David III

Sports: Basketball, four years; baseball, four years

Athletic highlights: Basketball most improved; baseball .500 club

Plans after high school: Attend Indiana University Kokomo, play baseball

Favorite food: Spaghetti

Favorite TV network: ESPN

Favorite musician: Drake

Favorite movie: “He Got Game”

Favorite team: Tennessee Volunteers

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