Moniteau battery going separate ways
CHERRY TWP — Moniteau senior Dawson Wallace refers to Warrior teammate Keagan Book as “the best catcher I've thrown to.
“He handles everything well back there,” Wallace said.
This season will be their last together, however, as Wallace recently signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and baseball career at Slippery Rock University and Book signed to do likewise at Westminster College.
Both considered the other’s choice of school before signing.
“Keagan committed well before I did,” Wallace said. “I looked at Westminster, but Slippery Rock was just a better fit for me.”
The pair hit in the No. 3 and 4 position of Moniteau’s batting order.
Wallace plans to major in business management at SRU. He also considered Youngstown State, Akron, California (Pa.) and Seton Hill, along with Westminster, before deciding on The Rock.
“Slippery Rock is close to home and its baseball facilities are really nice,” Wallace said. “The coach has only had four losing seasons in 39 years there. That’s pretty good, too.”
Wallace pitched for the Youngstown Colt team last summer and got to the World Series. His earned run average was 1.90 and his fastball got up to 87 miles per hour.
He had 57 strikeouts in 35 innings for Moniteau last spring.
Book plans to major in computer science. He considered the Pitt and Penn State branch campuses, Seton Hill and SRU before opting for Westminster.
“It’s a smaller school not too far from home and that’s what I wanted,” Book said. “I love the academics there, too.”
Book hit ,419 for the Warriors last spring. He played summer ball with the Pittsburgh Spikes and hit over .500 there.
“I consider myself a solid defensive catcher and I’m hoping that gets me on the field at Westminster early,” Book said. “They have a senior (Chase Tomko, hitting .333) starting behind the plate this year.”
The Titans, off to a 4-5 start this spring, also have a sophomore and freshman catcher on the roster, though neither has played much so far.
Patrick Riley is in his fifth year as Westminster coach. He guided the Titans to a program-record 17 Presidents’ Athletic Conference wins and a spot in the PAC title game in 2022.
SRU was 23-27 under longtime coach Jeff Messer last season, only his fourth losing campaign. The Rock has won six of its first eight games played this year.
Messer is 1,101-76 — a .620 winning percentage — in his coaching career. He has the most wins of any coach in PSAC history.
“I prefer being a starting pitcher to relieving,” Wallace said. “When I signed, Coach Messer told me that everybody earns what they get in terms of playing time and opportunities.
“I like that. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Wallace will become the fourths Butker County pitcher on SRU’s staff next year, joining Seneca Valley graduates Nate Malak and Ethan Edkins, and Moniteau graduate Branson Carson.
Slippery Rock High School graduate Brett Galcik is a freshman infielder with The Rock this year.
While they will soon be going their separate ways, Wallace and Book share a common goal this spring.
“Win the District 9 championship,” Book said. “We believe we have the team to do it.”
