Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball
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The Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team represents Wake Forest University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). They won the 1955 College World Series. They are coached by Tom Walter.
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | |
|---|---|
 2024 Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team | |
 | |
| Founded | 1891; 128 years ago |
| Overall record | 2167–1638–28 |
| University | Wake Forest University |
| Head coach | Tom Walter (15th season) |
| Conference | ACC Atlantic Division |
| Location | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Home stadium | David F. Couch Ballpark (Capacity: 3,823) |
| Nickname | Demon Deacons |
| Colors | Old gold and black[1] |
| NCAA Tournament champions | |
| 1955 | |
| College World Series runner-up | |
| 1949 | |
| College World Series appearances | |
| 1949, 1955, 2023 | |
| NCAA regional champions | |
| 1999, 2017, 2023 | |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |
| 1949, 1955, 1962, 1963, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| Atlantic Coast Conference: 1962, 1963, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2001 | |
| Regular season conference champions | |
| Southern Conference : 1949 Atlantic Coast Conference: 1955, 1962, 1963, 2023 | |
History
editThe Demon Deacon program began play in 1891.
The Demon Deacons represented the United States in baseball at the 1951 Pan American Games, winning the silver medal.[2][3] In 1955, the Demon Deacons defeated Western Michigan in the 1955 College World Series, led by coach Taylor Sanford.[4] In 1977, Outfielder Kenny Baker became the first Demon Deacon to win ACC Player of the Year.[5]
The Demon Deacons has been crowned ACC tournament champions four times: 1977, 1998, 1999, and 2001. In 2010, Tom Walter was hired as Wake Forest's new head coach.
David F. Couch Ballpark
edit
On October 31, 2007, Wake Forest University bought Ernie Shore Field for $5.5 million, paying that money upfront.[6] Starting in 2009, home games have been played at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park. The Demon Deacons' former home, Gene Hooks Stadium, was demolished following the university's purchase of Ernie Shore Field, which has since been renamed Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.[7] In February 2016, the Wake Forest ballpark was renamed David F. Couch Ballpark in honoring former Demon Deacon baseball player David Couch.[8]
Individual awards
edit- Kenny Baker (1977)[9]
- Brick Smith (1981)[10]
- Bill Merrifield (1982, 1983)[11]
- Jamie D'Antona (2003)[12]
- Will Craig (2015)[13]
- Bobby Seymour (2019)[14]
- Marvin Crater (1982)
- George Greer (2002)[15]
ACC Rookie of the Year
edit- Jamie D'Antona (2001)
- Allan Dykstra (2006)
College Baseball Hall of Fame
editIn 2010, Charlie Teague became the first and only former Demon Deacon elected into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.[16]
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Charlie Teague | 2B |
Championships
editNCAA College World Series Championships
edit| Year | Coach | Record | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Taylor Sanford | 24–6 | Defeated Western Michigan, 7–6<[citation needed] |
Conference Champions
edit| Year | Conference | Record | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | SoCon | 27–2 | Lee Gooch |
| 1955 | ACC | 28–7 | Taylor Sanford |
| 2023 | ACC | 22–7 | Tom Walter |
Conference Tournament champions
edit| Season | Conference | Venue | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | ACC | Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina | Marvin Carter |
| 1998 | ACC | Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham, North Carolina | George Greer |
| 1999 | ACC | Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham, North Carolina | George Greer |
| 2001 | ACC | Knights Stadium, Fort Mill, South Carolina | George Greer |
Wake Forest in the NCAA Tournament
editThe NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947. The Demon Deacons have played in 16 tournaments, advancing to the Super Regionals in 1949, 1955, and 2023, winning the National Championship in 1955.
| Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 4–2 | .667 | College World Series Runner-up, Region B Champion |
| 1955 | 9-2 | .818 | College World Series Champion, District 3 Champion |
| 1962 | 2–2 | .500 | District 3 |
| 1963 | 3–2 | .600 | District 3 |
| 1977 | 2–2 | .500 | Atlantic Regional |
| 1998 | 2–2 | .500 | South I Regional |
| 1999 | 3–3 | .500 | Coral Gables Super Regional, hosted Winston-Salem Regional |
| 2000 | 2–2 | .500 | Columbia Regional |
| 2001 | 3–2 | .600 | Knoxville Regional |
| 2002 | 3–2 | .600 | Hosted Winston-Salem Regional |
| 2007 | 1–2 | .333 | Round Rock Regional |
| 2016 | 1–2 | .333 | College Station Regional |
| 2017 | 4–2 | .667 | Gainesville Super Regional, hosted Winston-Salem Regional |
| 2022 | 1–2 | .333 | College Park Regional |
| 2023 | 7–2 | .778 | College World Series 3rd Place, hosted Winston-Salem Regional and Super Regional |
| 2024 | 0–2 | .000 | Greenville Regional |
TOTALS
|
45-28 | .616 |
Current and former major league players
edit
- Morrie Aderholt
- Gair Allie
- Matt Antonelli
- Ross Atkins
- Junie Barnes
- Ryan Braun, pitcher
- Mike Buddie
- Dave Bush
- Tommy Byrne
- Rip Coleman
- Tim Cooney
- Will Craig
- Jamie D'Antona
- Sean DePaula
- Bill Dillman
- Stuart Fairchild
- John Gaddy
- Chris Getz
- Lee Gooch
- Tommy Gregg
- Erik Hanson
- Kevin Jarvis
- Tom Lanning
- Buddy Lewis
- Mike MacDougal
- Willard Marshall
- Jack Meyer
- Doyt Morris
- Dick Newsome
- Charlie Ripple
- Griffin Roberts
- Craig Robinson
- Ray Scarborough
- Gavin Sheets
- Elmer Sexauer
- Brick Smith
- Vic Sorrell
- Cory Sullivan
- Mac Williamson
- Larry Woodall
- Bill Wynne
- Eddie Yount
- Source: [17]
2012 MLB Draft
editSix Demon Deacons were selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft: OF Mac Williamson by the San Francisco Giants (3rd Round), LHP Tim Cooney by the St. Louis Cardinals (3rd Round), 3B Carlos Lopez by Washington Nationals (12th Round), RHP Brian Holmes by the Houston Astros (13th round), SS Pat Blair by the Houston Astros (24th round), and RHP Michael Dimock also by the Houston Astros.[18]
2016 MLB Draft
editOnly one Demon Deacon was selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft: 3B Will Craig by the Pittsburgh Pirates (1st round;Pick 22).[19]
2017 MLB Draft
editIn 2017, Eight Wake Forest Demon Deacons were selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft: OF Stuart Fairchild by the Cincinnati Reds (2nd round), 1B Gavin Sheets by the Chicago White Sox (2nd round), RHP Parker Dunshee by the Oakland Athletics (7th round), C Ben Breazeale by the Baltimore Orioles (7th round), RHP Donnie Sellers by the Toronto Blue Jays (11th round), OF Jonathan Pryor by the Washington Nationals (19th round), RHP Connor Johnstone by the Atlanta Braves (21st round), and RHP Griffin Roberts by the Minnesota Twins (29th round) which set a program record and the most in the ACC.[20]
World Series Champions
editOnly four former Demon Deacons have gone on to win the World Series with their respective teams.
| Player | Position | Team | Number of Championships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Coleman | P | New York Yankees | 1 |
| Vic Sorrell | P | Detroit Tigers | 1 |
| Ray Scarborough | P | New York Yankees | 1 |
| Tommy Byrne | P | New York Yankees | 2 |
See also
editFurther reading
edit- "Baseball coach donates kidney to player". Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC (FOXSports.com). Associated Press. February 8, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
References
edit- ^ "Logos & Branding – Wake Forest University". November 24, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
- ^ "Wake Forest Accepts Offers To Play In Argentina Test". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. AP. February 6, 1951. p. 13. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Demon Deacons In Tie For Second Place". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. AP. March 7, 1951. p. 10. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "A Look Back: McGinley and the 1955 CWS". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- ^ "ACC Honors" (PDF). www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ Harrington, Matt (Oct 31, 2007). "Celebration marks start of work on downtown W-S baseball stadium". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ Hools Field
- ^ "Ballpark named for David F. Couch". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Will Craig honored as ACC player of the Year". GoDeacs.com. Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ "Seymour Picked as ACC Player of the Year". GoDeacs.com. Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ "Greer Voted ACC Coach of the Year". GoDeacs.com. Wake Forest Demon Deacons. May 27, 2002. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Charles Teague Inducted into National College Baseball Hall of Fame". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- ^ "Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) Baseball Players". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ Wright, Steven (June 7, 2012). "Deacons Make History in 2012 MLB Draft". Www.wakeforestsports.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ Berry, Adam (June 9, 2016). "Pirates select Wake Forest 3B Will Craig". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ "Program-record Eight Deacs selected in 2017 MLB Draft". Wakeforestsports.com. June 14, 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
