Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Baseball Season Outlook
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 23, 1998
As the 1998 season approaches, optimism abounds about the Wake Forest baseball program. With key returning veterans combining with a talented freshman class, head coach George Greer feels that this team can make some noise on the national scene this year.
After tying the school record with 37 victories in 1997, Greer and his Demon Deacons look for even more success in 1998 as they set their sights on the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference and a NCAA Regional.
"We have all of the ingredients to be an outstanding team this year," said Greer, now in his 11th season leading the Deacs. "This may be the deepest and the fastest team that I have coached at Wake Forest. We have speed, solid defense and the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark, and I think that makes us a very dangerous team."
But perhaps the greatest strength of the team is the pitching staff, which can go as many as ten players deep with quality arms from both the right and left sides.
"We have outstanding pitching," said Greer. "Our pitching staff ranks up there with the best in the country. We're deep enough that if one person goes down for a week or two that it won't affect us like it has in the past. I'm really looking forward to seeing us pitch this year."
Sophomore Mike MacDougal (Mesa, AZ), a potential first round draft pick and all-America candidate in 1998, leads the talented staff after earning freshman all-America honors last year.
The Deacons have a clear goal this season, and that is to advance to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1977. Greer feels that if his players stay healthy and the team plays to its potential, the Deacs will have a good chance of accomplishing their goals in 1998.
"We feel pretty good about our ballclub," said Greer. "We have some outstanding players and we feel that we can get to a regional this year and do well."
A position by position look at the 1998 Demon Deacons:
Catcher
The area with the greatest uncertainty and the most questions heading into 1998 is the catcher position. Junior Andrew Riepe (Danbury, CT) returns for his third season as Wake Forest's starting backstop. Last year, he performed well both at the plate and in the field, batting .335 with six home runs and 40 RBI while throwing out 20 of 56 potential base stealers.
Riepe underwent surgery for an inflamed bursar in his throwing shoulder in the fall but should be at full strength before spring practice begins.
Senior Steven Granese (Clear-water, FL), .375-0-4 last year, is recovering from shoulder surgery that took place over the summer and is currently on schedule to return healthy for the 1998 season to stake claim to the No. 2 spot. If he is slowed during recovery, look for freshman Corey Slavik (St. Petersburg, FL) to challenge for playing time here. Slavik, who can also play several positions on the infield, has the tools to be an outstanding catcher but lacks experience.
Sophomore Joe Belton (Dublin, OH), who gained valuable experience in fall practice while Riepe and Granese were on the mend, and freshman Jason Mersey (Baltimore, MD)
