CUTTING EDGE: Moniteau Senior Dawson Wallace Going High-Tech to Help Himself Improve on the Mound

WEST SUNBURY, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Dawson Wallace attaches sensors to key points scattered across his body before stepping onto the mound to throw.

Every detail of his motion is captured. Arm slot. Shoulder rotation. Arm speed. Elbow torque. It’s all relayed back to Five Tool Connection, a baseball performance testing and training company.

It’s high-tech. It’s cutting edge. And Wallace, who will be a senior at Moniteau, is using it to draw out every ounce of his potential.

“This is so I can get the most out of myself when I throw,” Wallace said.

It’s not just analyzing his mechanics. Wallace also gets a detailed stretching routine from the company.

“It’s a lot of soft tissue stretching — really stretching every part of my body that I use when I’m throwing,” Wallace said.

Wallace found out about the service through Riverside pitcher Christian Lucarelli, who just helped the Panthers to a 25-0 record and PIAA Class 3A championship this spring.

“He had a big spike in velocity,” Wallace said. “He went to them and he said they really helped him get pointed in the right direction with things.”

Wallace has already noticed a difference in just the four weeks he’s been working with Five Tool Connection.

“I’ve gained about a mile per hour throwing,” Wallace said. “I can really tell now when I’m doing some of the stretches. It’s definitely a deeper stretch and it’s not as painful to do now.”

Wallace had already turned in a stellar junior season for Moniteau, both on the mound and at the plate.

The right-hander struck out 58 and walked just three batters in 44⅓ innings for the Warriors, sporting a 2.53 ERA.

With his high-tech work on his mechanics and pliability, Wallace is eager to see how his training pays off.

“I’m definitely looking forward to next season,” Wallace said.

THE WALLACE FILE

NAME: Dawson Wallace

SCHOOL: Moniteau

YEAR: Senior

SPORTS PLAYED: Baseball, golf

2022-23 HIGHLIGHTS: Struck out 58 batter and walked just three in 44⅓ innings pitched for the Warriors while posting a 2.53 ERA. Batted .288 with two homers and 16 RBIs.

Q: You are young for your grade, aren’t you?

A: My birthday is in May, so I should be in the grade below me.

Q: Is that a challenge?

A: It’s definitely been a challenge, but I think it’s also kind of gives me that edge. I want to work harder just because some kids are a whole year older than me in my grade. I kind of have that spark in me to just word a little extra harder because of that reason.

Q: What are your goals in sports?

A: I think for the 2024 season, our team goal is to win D9.

Q: How would you describe yourself as an athlete?

A: Hard-working and determined.

Q: What’s your pre-game routine?

A: I like to throw as far as I possibly can before a game, then I roll out with a foam roller, then hit bands and do my plyo-ball routine, then throw my bullpen and try to get a few swings in.

Q: What do you do to handle a loss?

A: I think of what the team’s end goal is and how the loss is in the past and we can only handle what’s in front of us.

Q: If you could be another player for a week, who would you be and why?

A: Shohei Ohtani, just to experience throwing 100 mph and hitting a ball 450 feet.