Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball
American college baseball team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
|---|---|
 2026 Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team | |
 | |
| Founded | 1891 (134 years ago) |
| Overall record | 2167–1638–28 |
| University | Wake Forest University |
| Athletic director | John Currie (athletic director) |
| Head coach | Tom Walter (17th 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] |
| College World Series 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, 2025 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| Atlantic Coast Conference: 1962, 1963, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2001 | |
| Conference regular season champions | |
| Southern Conference : 1949 Atlantic Coast Conference: 1955, 1962, 1963, 2023 | |
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.[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
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
ACC Player of the Year
- 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]
ACC Coach of the Year
- Marvin Crater (1982)
- George Greer (2002)[15]
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.[16]
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Charlie Teague | 2B |
Championships
NCAA College World Series Championships
| Year | Coach | Record | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Taylor Sanford | 24–6 | Defeated Western Michigan, 7–6<[citation needed] |
Conference Champions
| 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
| 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 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 |
| 2025 | 3–2 | .600 | Knoxville Regional |
TOTALS |
50–35 | .588 |
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: [17]
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.[18]
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).[19]
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.[20]
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 |
See also
Further reading
- "Baseball coach donates kidney to player". Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC (FOXSports.com). Associated Press. February 8, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
