PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANK POULIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Nahant native Al Wallach has taken an interesting path to get to the North Shore Navigators this summer.
By JOSHUA KUMMINS
LYNN — Nahant native Al Wallach’s path to the North Shore Navigators was an atypical one.
When he saw the local Futures Collegiate Baseball League squad was down a few pitchers late during the month of June, he took it upon himself to inquire about a roster spot.
“That’s how I got on the team,” Wallach said. “I reached out to (general manager Bill Terlecky) and then threw a bullpen.”
That was that, and now the Swampscott High alum is excited to get some innings under his belt, facing some top collegiate talent before he returns to Framingham State University for his junior season.
As one of a few locals remaining on the Navs’ roster, Wallach has enjoyed the opportunity to represent the North Shore and experience a role reversal from his days as a young fan in the stands at Fraser Field.
“It’s been a dream come true, kind of, because I always came to the (North Shore) Spirit games as a kid,” Wallach said. “I was always a big fan, so when I had the opportunity to come to the Navigators and come play, it was awesome.”
Wallach made his first appearance with the Navs on June 24, just a few days after he was signed. Then, he did not come out of the bullpen for nearly another month.
Through that time, Navs manager John Zizzo ensured Wallach that he would see his number called. He has made the most of his chance, tossing 5.2 scoreless, two-hit innings over four appearances.
All along, Wallach’s top priority was making the team. Then, he was able to show Zizzo and pitching coach Pete Gonski what he could do.
“I wasn’t pitching for a little bit in the year, and he just told me to stick it out and I was going to get time,” Wallach said of his conversations with Zizzo earlier in the season. “My expectation was that I wanted to make the team, and prove to him, as the days went on, that I should be pitching.”
Wallach transferred to Framingham after making just two appearances as a freshman at the University of Southern Maine.
Wallach’s specific role with the Rams was in question as the spring season started, but things changed as he quickly worked into the starting rotation and then getting the nod in three weekend conference games.
“I just kind of earned my way into a starting spot and then into a weekend spot,” Wallach said. “I thought I had a good season for my first real season pitching consistently.”
Wallach wound up as one of FSU’s top pitchers by spring’s end, despite earning just one of the team’s ten wins ― a seven-inning, five-hit shutout of Worcester State in April. He posted 20 strikeouts to just nine walks over his 43.2 innings of work on the season.
With the summer quickly drawing to a close, Wallach has noticed progress on his major goal heading into next season: increasing his velocity.
“My big thing that I really need to work on going into next season is just picking up my velo,” Wallach said. “So far, I’ve picked up a little bit since my spring season and I’m trying to pick up more by the time the season starts up next year.”
Summer collegiate baseball is a special experience, especially those fortunate enough to play a stone’s throw from their hometowns.
Wallach is doing just that, and can’t help but think back to his days as a young baseball fan from the other side of the fence.
“My first outing here against Martha’s Vineyard, I heard people yelling like ‘Nahant, Nahant,’ so it’s a very cool experience being here around the locals,” Wallach said. “It was really cool because I felt flip-flopped from when I was a little kid out there watching.”
Joshua Kummins can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.