Male Athlete of the Month: Andrew Wallace

Pascack Valley Baseball’s pitcher Andrew Wallace, a current junior, is having a strong start to the 2023 baseball season.

In the month of April, Wallace has notched a 3-0 pitching record and a staggering 1.84 earned run average in 20.2 innings pitched. 

Earlier this month Valley played Ramsey high school where Wallace pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only six hits and leading Valley to a win. 

“My [favorite high school moment is the] complete game shutout I threw recently [against Ramsey],” Wallace said. 

In Wallace’s recent performance against Don Bosco Prep, he pitched two innings allowing two runs with no hits and a strikeout. Pascack Valley ended up losing the game 3-2 against a well-respected Don Bosco Prep team.

With Wallace’s success comes preparation: both throughout the day and between pitches.

“I like to take a lot of deep breaths and just think…” Wallace said. “I think about how I can prepare myself and be the best I can that day.” 

Head Baseball Coach Will Lynch added that Wallace is coachable and trustworthy.

“I don’t have to say a lot to him; he knows what he’s supposed to be doing,” Lynch said. “We just go with [what he does].”

Not only does Wallace perform on the mound, but he also acts as a leader. Coach Lynch praises Wallace’s ability to lead by example.

“[Wallace] quietly leads,” said Lynch. “I think when he is on the mound we feel like we have to play well… You make the play behind him because he’s working hard.”

Wallace started playing baseball when he was young, and he hasn’t stopped.

“I started playing baseball when I was young,” Wallace said. “I started playing tee ball and have been playing for a long time since then…” 

Wallace also follows the sport regularly at the professional level: his favorite team is the Yankees. He added the games helps with his pitching.

“I don’t really have any specific role models, but I like to study pitchers in a way where they can be my role models,” Wallace said. “I study what they do right and maybe what they are doing wrong.” 

Apart from studying baseball, Wallace makes sure to work hard on his academics and seeks to manage his time effectively.

“Having a schedule for my [work] and being organized with whether I have time to do an assignment [helps me],” Wallace said. “I do it after practice, or, if not, I do it the next day during lunch or Pascack Period.” 

Wallace loves to win and have success, but he keeps playing baseball because of the opportunities it creates.

 “It’s a sport where you can reveal who you are,” said Wallace. “Not just by character, but by skills. When something tough happens, it’s about how you handle things.” 

As the season continues, Lynch adds that Wallace on the mound will help the team succeed.

“He’s been our most consistent pitcher,” Lynch said. “He’s gotten at it and competed every day. He’s got a little bit of extra fire in him this year, which I kind of like too.”