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.
History 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. In 1955, the Demon Deacons, led by coach Taylor Sanford, defeated Western Michigan to clinch the 1955 College World Series championship. In 1977, Outfielder Kenny Baker became the first Demon Deacon to win ACC Player of the Year.
The Demon Deacons have 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
On October 31, 2007, Wake Forest University bought Ernie Shore Field for $5.5 million, paying that money upfront. 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.Hools Field In February 2016, the Wake Forest ballpark was renamed David F. Couch Ballpark in honoring former Demon Deacon baseball player David Couch.
Individual awards
ACC Player of the Year Kenny Baker (1977) Brick Smith (1981) Bill Merrifield (1982, 1983) Jamie D'Antona (2003) Will Craig (2015) Bobby Seymour (2019)
ACC Coach of the Year Marvin Crater (1982) George Greer (2002)
ACC Rookie of the Year Jamie D'Antona (2001) Allan Dykstra (2006)
College Baseball Hall of Fame In 2010, Charlie Teague became the first and only former Demon Deacon elected into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Year Player Position 2010 Charlie Teague 2B
Championships
NCAA College World Series Championships 1955 Taylor Sanford 24–6 Defeated Western Michigan, 7–6<
Conference Champions 1949 SoCon 27–2 Lee Gooch 1955 ACC 28–7 Taylor Sanford 2023 ACC 22–7 Tom Walter
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
Wake Forest in the NCAA Tournament The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947. The Demon Deacons have played in 18 tournaments, advancing to the College World Series in 1949, 1955, and 2023, winning the National Championship in 1955. 1949 4–2 College World Series Runner-up, Region B Champion 1955 9–2 College World Series Champion, District 3 Champion 1962 2–2 District 3 1963 3–2 District 3 1977 2–2 Atlantic Regional 1998 2–2 South I Regional 1999 3–3 Coral Gables Super Regional, hosted Winston-Salem Regional 2000 2–2 Columbia Regional 2001 3–2 Knoxville Regional 2002 3–2 Hosted Winston-Salem Regional 2007 1–2 Round Rock Regional 2016 1–2 College Station Regional 2017 4–2 Gainesville Super Regional, hosted Winston-Salem Regional 2022 1–2 College Park Regional 2023 7–2 College World Series 3rd Place, hosted Winston-Salem Regional and Super Regional 2024 0–2 Greenville Regional 2025 3–2 Knoxville Regional 2026 1–2 Morgantown Regional 51–37
Current and former major league players
Morrie Aderholt Gair Allie Matt Antonelli Ross Atkins Junie Barnes Ryan Braun, pitcher Mike Buddie Dave Bush Chase Burns 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 Nick Kurtz 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:
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.
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).
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.
World Series Champions Only four former Demon Deacons have gone on to win the World Series with their respective teams. PlayerPosition TeamNumber 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 Wake Forest Demon Deacons List of NCAA Division I baseball programs
Further reading
References
External links