SCRAPPERS HOME OPENER Wallace is working way back up ladder

Tonight's starter was 10-2 with Kinston in 2001 before elbow surgery ended his year.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Can it get any better for Shane Wallace tonight at Cafaro Field?
The 21-year-old left-handed pitcher from Carrollton, Texas, will start the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' home opener against the Batavia Muckdogs.
He will have the support of 6,000 fans. He will have the support of his mother, Cindy, who will be sitting in the stands.
If that's not emotional enough, how about this? Wallace will make his first start in a regular game since he underwent elbow surgery nearly a year ago.
Reaction
"It's really nice that the organization decided to put me in as the starter," Wallace said. "I didn't know when I was going to throw. I figured Friday or Saturday.
"It's cool, especially since I haven't thrown in a game with probably as many fans as this one."
The Scrappers said Thursday they expect "6,000-plus" fans for tonight's game. There are a limited number of seats available.
"I've never had trouble throwing in front of crowds before," said Wallace, who has thrown in front of 5,000 fans in some road games. "I hear more hecklers when there are less [fans] because there's usually one guy who never shuts up."
Wallace, who will make his first appearance in a Scrappers uniform, is on an 80-pitch count. He hopes to pitch six innings.
"I don't think I'll be in Mahoning Valley too long. I hope not. I don't want to get comfortable here," Wallace said. "I like the town and I love the people and team, but at the same time I have other things I want to accomplish."
Such as returning to his 2001 form, when he went 10-2 with a 1.61 ERA in 13 starts at Class A-High Kinston (N.C.).
"I was doing good last year. I'd like to think I had a chance to move up to Double-A if I didn't have surgery," Wallace said. "I hope to be back to Kinston by the end of the season."
Prep pick
The 6-foot-2 Wallace was a 1999 sixth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Indians out of Newman Smith (Texas) High School. He signed to play at Baylor University but elected to turn pro.
"I had the opportunity to go to college, but it seemed like the right time [to go pro]," Wallace said.
Wallace pitched at Rookie-League Burlington (N.C.) in '99, Class A-Low Columbus (Ga.) in 2000 and Kinston last year.
"It's ultimately up to you," said Wallace, when asked what he has learned from the pro game. "They give you as many options to be successful, and you can take them or leave them. The more you try to improve yourself, the further you're going to go."
Sometimes, though, there are obstacles.
Wallace's elbow began to bother him in 2000. When an MRI didn't show a tear, he rehabbed the arm that year. Last year, though, the elbow broke down, forcing him into surgery.
"It feels the best that it has since surgery," he said. "I had a couple of setbacks [tired shoulder, sore back] three weeks ago, but it [the arm] is real live and strong, and everything's coming together."
Repertoire
Wallace attacks hitters with a sinker, four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. The sinker is his main pitch, what he calls his "groundball pitch."
"Getting a lot of groundballs is my game," he said. "I don't strike a lot of [batters] out, but I keep my pitch count down and go deep into the game."
Wallace hopes he can do just that tonight against the Muckdogs and begin another road up through the minor leagues.
richesson@vindy.com