Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball
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 | |
---|---|
2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team | |
Founded | 1891; 128 years ago |
Overall record | 2167–1638–28 |
University | Wake Forest University |
Head coach | Tom Walter (12th 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 | |
NCAA regional champions | |
1999, 2017 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1949, 1955, 1962, 1963, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2016, 2017 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
Atlantic Coast Conference: 1962, 1963, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2001 | |
Conference champions | |
Southern Conference : 1949 |
History
The Demon Deacon program began play in 1891. In 1955, the Demon Deacons defeated Western Michigan in the 1955 College World Series, led by coach Taylor Sanford.[2] In 1977, Outfielder Kenny Baker became the first Demon Deacon to win ACC Player of the Year.[3] The Demon Deacons has been crowned ACC Tournament Champions 4 times from (1977, 1998, 1999, 2001). In 2010, Tom Walter was hired as Wake Forest's new head coach.
David F. Couch Ballpark
On October 31, 2007, Wake Forest University bought Ernie Shore Field for $5.5 million, paying that money upfront.[4] 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.[5] In February 2016, the Wake Forest ballpark was renamed David F. Couch Ballpark in honoring former Demon Deacon baseball player David Couch.[6]
Individual awards
ACC Player of the Year
- Kenny Baker (1977)
- Brick Smith (1981)
- Bill Merrifield (1982, 1983)
- Jamie D'Antona (2003)
- Will Craig (2015)[7]
- Bobby Seymour (2019)[8]
ACC Coach of the Year
- Marvin Carter (1982)
- George Greer (2002)
ACC Rookie of the Year
- Jamie D'Antona (2001)
- Allan Dykstra (2006)
ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player
- John Hendricks (1998)
- Andrew Riepe (1999)
- Dave Bush (2001)
College Baseball Hall of Fame
In 2010, Charles Teague became the first and only former Demon Deacon elected into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.[9]
Year | Player | Position |
---|---|---|
2010 | Charles Teague | 2B |
Championships
NCAA College World Series Championships
Year | Coach | Record | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1955 | Taylor Sanford | 24-6 | Defeated Western Michigan, 7-6 |
Conference Champions
Year | Coach | Record | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1949 | SoCon | 27-2 | Taylor Sanford |
Conference Tournament Champions
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 |
Current and former major league players
- Morrie Aderholt
- Gair Allie
- Matt Antonelli
- Ross Atkins
- Junie Barnes
- Ryan Braun
- 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: [10]
2012 MLB Draft
Six 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.[11]
2016 MLB Draft
Only one Demon Deacon was selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft: 3B Will Craig by the Pittsburgh Pirates (1st round;Pick 22).[12]
2017 MLB Draft
In 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.[13]
Current MLB Roster
Former Demon Deacons on Current MLB rosters as of July 15, 2019.
Player | Position | Number | Team |
---|---|---|---|
Mac Williamson | LF | 12 | Seattle Mariners |
Current Minor League Roster
Former Demon Deacons on current Minor League Baseball rosters as of July 21, 2017.
Player | Position | Number | Team | MLB Organization |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gavin Sheets | 1B | 23 | Kannapolis Intimidators | Chicago White Sox |
Stuart Fairchild | OF | 43 | Billings Mustangs | Cincinnati Reds |
Will Craig | 3B | 22 | Bradenton Marauders | Pittsburgh Pirates |
Donnie Sellers | P | 14 | Vancouver Canadians | Toronto Blue Jays |
Parker Dunshee | P | 27 | Vermont Lake Monsters | Oakland A's |
Ben Breazeale | C | 39 | Aberdeen Ironbirds | Baltimore Orioles |
World Series Champions
Only 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 |
Further reading
- "Baseball coach donates kidney to player". Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC (FOXSports.com). Associated Press. February 8, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
References
- "Logos & Branding – Wake Forest University". November 24, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
- "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.
- Hools Field
- "Ballpark named for David F. Couch". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- "Will Craig honored as ACC player of the Year". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- "Seymour Picked as ACC Player of the Year". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- "Charles Teague Inducted into National College Baseball Hall of Fame". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- Baseball Reference
- 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. Retrieved July 29, 2017.