HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State’s baseball team had its season end on Monday in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Tournament after stringing together two impressive victories in the elimination bracket.
The Lions finished the 2022 campaign with a 34-22 record – marking another postseason appearance for Wallace State Hall of Fame coach Randy Putman, now in his 33rd season.
Wallace State opened the tournament with an 11-1 loss to Wallace Community College-Dothan last Friday before rallying with wins over Shelton State (11-8) and Lawson State (8-5, 11 innings) in consecutive days.
The Lions ran out of gas against Coastal Alabama-South on Monday, losing 12-4 in eight innings. The Sun Chiefs broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth, scoring six runs with two outs.
Sophomore Colson Lawrence was spectacular at the plate in the tournament, blasting four home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run blast in the Lawson State game in extra innings. The Hoover native finished with seven RBIs, adding a pair of singles and a double throughout.
Jayce Guyette had two doubles among his six hits, adding five RBIs; while Mason Mann finished with a triple, double, four singles and a pair of RBIs.
Ben Arnett collected seven hits over the four-game stretch, including two doubles. Freshman catcher Dan Stewart had four doubles and an RBI, while Austin Roberts tallied five singles.
Presley Walker had four RBIs in Monday’s loss, including a three-run home run, and Mitchell Heer accounted for a pair of doubles, a single, and an RBI in the tournament.
Prior to the tournament, Wallace State’s Heer was named the ACCC All-North’s Division Player of the Year. Heer and Arnett were each named to the All-South District and All-ACCC North Division first teams.
Heer was on pace to contend for the ACCC Triple Crown before suffering an illness at the midway point of the conference slate. He finished the season hitting .387 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs, and, on the mound, was 4-1 with six saves and 0.64 ERA in 28 1/3 innings.
Lawrence clubbed a team-high 12 home runs for Wallace State, adding a .368 average and 47 RBIs. On the mound, Lawrence was 2-2 with three complete games and a 0.78 ERA in 23 innings pitched.
Putman now has a career record of 1,167-542 in 33 seasons with Wallace State baseball.
Wallace State women’s golf
Wallace State’s golf teams concluded their spring seasons last week at their respective National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships.
Wallace State’s women’s team finished 13th overall at Mayfair Country Club in Sanford, Fla.
Sophomore Hannah Sanders was the Lady Lions’ top finisher at nationals, placing 37th overall with a 335 (87-84-87-88). Sanders was also the 2022 Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Women’s Golfer of the Year, finishing as the conference tournament low medalist.
Hope Harrell was among the top 50 finishers, carding a 341. The freshman from Guntersville won a pair of events this spring, being named to the ACCC Tournament and NJCAA South District teams.
Abby Brown, Abigail Baker and Brileigh Roberts rounded out the Wallace State field.
Wallace State advanced to nationals after finishing runner-up at the NJCAA South District Tournament.
The Lady Lions also captured their fifth straight ACCC Tournament title this postseason.
Wallace State coach J.J. Adams was named the ACCC Coach of the Year.
Wallace State men’s golf
Davis Aaron and George Law each finished with Wallace State’s best individual finish at the men’s NJCAA National Championship in Odessa, Texas.
Aaron, a sophomore from Tuscaloosa, and Law carded a 14-over par 302 (78-79-74-71) apiece for Wallace State, which was making the program’s 27th appearance at the national event.
Joshua Darracott was five strokes behind his teammates, finishing with a 19-over 307. Darracott was coming off All-District recognition at the NJCAA South District Tournament.
Allen Michael Burnett and Zackary Coker rounded out the Wallace State field.
The Lions finished 19th overall.
Wallace State’s best finish this season was at the ACCC Tournament (3rd).
Coach Sylas Elliott wrapped up his fourth season with the Lions.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu or the athletics Facebook page at www.wallacestate.edu/athleticsfb.
