Where the Stars of Tomorrow Shine Tonight!

Article By: Ben Sinins

Hitting sensation Landon Wallace, an outfielder from West Virginia University, was made for the challenges of Cape Cod League play. He grew up in Roseville, California, a virtual breeding ground for top-notch baseball talent. Former MLB players Andrew Susac, Donovan Osborne, Preston Guilmet, David Berg and current Mets reliever Steve Nogosek, are all fellow Roseville natives. Kids from Roseville, Wallace included, seem to start swinging a bat as they learn to walk. Wallace has never stopped swinging, and now brings his substantial talent to Wareham.

Growing up, Wallace played soccer and baseball, but he became hooked on baseball after attending a San Francisco Giants game. From that moment, baseball was Wallace’s life and primary passion. Attending Roseville High School, Wallace absolutely dominated. He was a four-year varsity player and holds the school career batting average title, a remarkable .463. Wallace’s collegiate career has been more of the same achievement. The common story over his first two college seasons and summer ball have been getting on base.

Wallace simply has a knack for getting base hits. Over each of his first two collegiate campaigns at the University of Nevada (Reno), and during summer ball, Wallace hit well over .300. As a freshman in Reno, he batted .363 in 91 at-bats with six doubles, a triple and a home run. As a sophomore, full-time starter, Wallace batted .313, with even more extra-base hits: eight doubles, a triple and five home runs. His coaches then sent him to the Northwoods League for summer ball. That league, with an extended season and extreme distances between ballparks, is basically a baseball boot camp. The Northwoods is notorious for long bus rides, only having a few off days a month and being an all-around grind. In other words, a fitting challenge for a baseball rat like Wallace.

Wallace recalls a 30-game stretch over 31 days for the La Crosse Loggers. Getting off a bus post-game at 4am and then playing the same day was common. To the average human this may seem an awful burden, but to Wallace, this was baseball heaven. There can never be enough baseball for Wallace. He takes each challenge running full speed.
As Wallace moves towards the Cape Cod League summer, following a spring season at West Virginia, he is excited to experience playing with – and against -- the best talent from across the country. His track record suggests he may be the latest Roseville player to make it to the Big Leagues.