When Forest Lake pitching ace Matt Wallner is dealing on the mound, his fastball is hitting its spots and his curveball leaves batters befuddled.
Earlier this spring, Wallner got a taste of helplessness when the University of North Dakota announced it was dropping baseball for financial reasons. The senior had signed with the school in November, fulfilling a Division I college dream that began on the small baseball field his father built behind the house.
Everything unraveled April 12, moments after Forest Lake opened its season with a 4-3 victory at home against East Ridge. As Wallner left the field, "my dad pulled me aside, and he was almost in tears," he said. News out of Grand Forks was spreading fast. Wallner checked his phone and found it had exploded with sympathetic messages.
"I was devastated at first," Wallner said. "I didn't know what I was going to do."
The initial shock has waned and Wallner, one of the metro area's top players, is moving forward. He said offers have come from Creighton, Minnesota and Southern Mississippi and he plans to choose by the end of May. The North Dakota gear he purchased in Grand Forks sits in his closet, reminders of what might have been.
The school was the first to offer Wallner a scholarship and the Division I interest boosted his confidence. In the past 12 months, Wallner built himself into a well-rounded prospect. Strength training and better nutrition added muscle.
Recruited as an outfielder by North Dakota, Wallner has improved as a pitcher. Forest Lake started the season 10-2 and Wallner became the Rangers' ace. He went 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA and 36 strikeouts while issuing just four walks. He pitched a five-hitter, striking out seven, as Forest Lake gave top-ranked Cretin-Derham Hall its first loss this spring. At the plate, Wallner has hit nine home runs and posted 23 RBI.
Wallner's right arm has attracted both college interest and professional scouts.
