Wallace State’s Garrett Suchey serving as staff ace after Tommy John surgery, graduating with engineering technology degree
HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State baseball’s Garrett Suchey faced a lot of uncertainty about his career a little more than two years ago. Suchey was seven games into his freshman season at Wallace State in 2014, tossing 21 2/3 innings before experiencing elbow troubles.
Suchey, a former honorable mention All-State selection out of Mortimer Jordan, was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery and ultimately missed a season and a half with the Lions.
Fast forward to 2016 and Suchey has rebounded from the common baseball injury stronger than ever. Suchey has served as Wallace State’s ace on the mound this season, entering today’s Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 tournament in Ozark with a 6-2 record, a 2.46 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
“I’m so thankful to have recovered as well as I have. I didn’t know what to expect once I began rehabbing. Some days were awful and some days I felt good,” Suchey said. “I never imagined I would feel as good as I do now on the mound.”
Wallace State opens the ACCC tournament today against Faulkner State at 12:30 p.m.
Suchey is also graduating with an associate’s degree in engineering technology. He previously knew Wallace State Engineering Technology instructor Kristi Bain through connections at Mortimer Jordan, and she encouraged Suchey to pursue a degree in her department.
“Kristi made sure I was going to leave here with a degree and the opportunity to find a good job one day. Kristi has done so much for me and has been a great influence,” said Suchey, who, while injured, cashed in scholarship money he earned from Dizzy Dean baseball in Mortimer Jordan. “I’m thankful and excited she pushed me the way she did. It’s been challenging and rewarding.”
Suchey signed an athletic scholarship with the University of Alabama last fall. He’ll join the Tide for the next two seasons while pursuing a degree in constructional engineering.
“Garrett Suchey has developed so much since he’s been with us. He came to Wallace State as a catcher, but we decided to move him to pitcher. He liked that decision, and he’s just become better and better as a pitcher. Garrett has pitched extremely strong after surgery, and I feel confident he’ll give us a chance to win every time he pitches,” said Wallace State baseball coach Randy Putman, who has led the Lions to the postseason in 25 of 27 seasons. “Garrett is an intelligent young man and very grounded. He’s focused on everything he does and is dedicated, so that’s a testimony to his parents when they were raising him. If baseball isn’t a career option, he’ll already have a degree and be on his way to being a successful husband and father.”
Suchey believes Wallace State (32-23) can make a strong postseason run in Ozark and potentially exceed its runner-up finish last season.
“I feel like we have 10 guys on the mound that we can choose from and not miss a beat. If we have the right pitching at the right time, we could end up in the championship game again. We just need to string together a few wins and gain some early momentum,” Suchey said.
Wallace State is celebrating its 50th anniversary commencement tonight as Suchey and his teammates compete in the ACCC tournament.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.
Garrett Suchey
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 256-352-8443 direct
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
Kristen Holmes
Communications & Marketing Director, and
Administrator, The Evelyn Burrow Museum
Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW | Hanceville, AL 35077
E-mail: kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
Office: 256.352.8118 | Cell: 256.339.2519 | Toll Free: 866.350.9722