Wikipedia

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
2024 Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team
Founded1891; 128 years ago
Overall record2167–1638–28
UniversityWake Forest University
Head coachTom Walter (15th season)
ConferenceACC
Atlantic Division
LocationWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Home stadiumDavid F. Couch Ballpark
(Capacity: 3,823)
NicknameDemon Deacons
ColorsOld 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

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The 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

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Main article: David F. Couch Ballpark
 
David F. Couch Ballpark, formally named Ernie Shore Field

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

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ACC Player of the Year

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ACC Coach of the Year

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ACC Rookie of the Year

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College Baseball Hall of Fame

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In 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

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NCAA College World Series Championships

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Year Coach Record Result
1955 Taylor Sanford 24–6 Defeated Western Michigan, 7–6<[citation needed]

Conference Champions

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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

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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

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The 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

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Mike MacDougal
Source: [17]

2012 MLB Draft

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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.[18]

2016 MLB Draft

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Only 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

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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.[20]

World Series Champions

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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

See also

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Further reading

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  • "Baseball coach donates kidney to player". Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC (FOXSports.com). Associated Press. February 8, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-09.

References

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  1. ^ "Logos & Branding – Wake Forest University". November 24, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "A Look Back: McGinley and the 1955 CWS". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "ACC Honors" (PDF). www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Harrington, Matt (Oct 31, 2007). "Celebration marks start of work on downtown W-S baseball stadium". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  7. ^ Hools Field
  8. ^ "Ballpark named for David F. Couch". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  9. ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  11. ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  12. ^ Collins, Dan (May 19, 2016). "Wake Forest's best of the best". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  13. ^ "Will Craig honored as ACC player of the Year". GoDeacs.com. Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "Seymour Picked as ACC Player of the Year". GoDeacs.com. Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  15. ^ "Greer Voted ACC Coach of the Year". GoDeacs.com. Wake Forest Demon Deacons. May 27, 2002. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Charles Teague Inducted into National College Baseball Hall of Fame". www.godeacs.com. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  17. ^ "Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) Baseball Players". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  18. ^ Wright, Steven (June 7, 2012). "Deacons Make History in 2012 MLB Draft". Www.wakeforestsports.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  19. ^ Berry, Adam (June 9, 2016). "Pirates select Wake Forest 3B Will Craig". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  20. ^ "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.
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