Wake Forest Athletics
Baseball Gears Up for 1999 Season
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
January 5, 1999
Thirsting for More
A year after the school's first Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in 21 years, the Demon Deacons welcome back a number of talented veterans as they hope to duplicate that success in 1999.
Wake Forest shocked the collegiate baseball world, that is everyone except themselves, with the Demon Deacons' dramatic run to the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.
It was written here last year that head coach George Greer thought his 1998 club could win a conference championship. Most people shrugged that idea off, especially with teams the likes of Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech looming within the conference. But the players never stopped believing in their skipper and went on to claim the ACC crown.
And coming off that league title, the Deacs welcome back 21 lettermen from a year ago as they look to build on that success in 1999. The goals remain the same, compete for a conference championship, earn a spot in the NCAA Regionals and contend for a berth in the College World Series.
Wake Forest has already gained some national attention and is ranked 17th by Baseball America and 21st by Collegiate Baseball in their preseason polls.
"We're certainly excited about the upcoming season," says Greer, now in his 12th-year at the helm of the Deacon program. "With our talented pitching staff and all of our returning hitters, we have all of the ingredients to have another successful year."
A closer look at the 1999 Demon Deacons:
CATCHERS
The Deacs have the luxury of a quality, veteran backstop with senior Andrew Riepe behind the plate. Now entering his third season as Wake Forest's top catcher, Riepe brings the savvy and experience needed to control the Deacons pitching staff as well as a dangerous bat to the lineup.
More importantly, Riepe is an ironman behind the plate who Greer can pencil into the lineup on a daily basis. Last year while starting 64 of 66 games, Riepe hit .283 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI.
"Andrew is an outstanding leader for our team," says Greer. "He knows the league exceptionally well and is an excellent receiver. It means an awful lot to have a veteran catcher. He has a feel for the game and knows all of the hitters in the league. I can't say enough about his presence on the team."
Backing up Riepe is versatile freshman David Bush. The newcomer, who will also have an impact on the mound this season, displays sound defensive skills and will afford Riepe the opportunity to take an occasional day off during the season.
"David is our number two catcher, but he is also a hot pitching prospect for us," says Greer. "Since we have Andrew, we can concentrate more on his pitching this season. But we do expect him, along with Ryan Braun, to be one of our top two catchers next season."
Braun, another talented two-way player who is both a catcher and a pitcher, will redshirt during the 1999 season as he works to recover from an elbow injury suffered last summer.
Junior Joe Belton enters the season as the third-string catcher, but is extremely valuable to the team for his leadership and catching abilities in the bullpen. Adding depth here is Jason Mersey, a powerful hitter who may also see action as a designated hitter and at first base.
INFIELD
The Demon Deacons enter the 1999 season with a pair of anchors at the corners of the infield with senior Jon Palmieri at first base and sophomore Corey Slavik at third base.
A third-team All-American and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 1998, Palmieri shattered nearly every single-season school record a year ago, including hits (112), RBI (78) and doubles (30) in addition to posting the second-highest batting average in school history (.438). He was perhaps even more spectacular in the field as he committed just one error in 641 chances (.998).
As he enters his final season with a chance to break a number of Wake Forest career records, Greer gushes with excitement when he talks about the defending ACC Batting Champion.
"We're very fortunate to have a player like Jon Palmieri returning this season," says Greer. "As good as he is as a player, he is just such a great person and a great leader for our team. We couldn't do the things that we have done without him."
Slavik was a freshman All-American selection as a rookie after batting .375 with seven home runs and 47 RBI. He took over the starting job at third base early last season with his powerful left-handed bat and provided protection for Palmieri in the batting order.
"Corey has really improved his defense from last season," says Greer. "He has arguably the best throwing arm on the team and is really a much improved all-around player entering this season. He's playing with great confidence and I expect another great season from him."
In the middle of the infield, Greer has the luxury of turning to a number of different players with experience to insert into the lineup.
At second base, sophomore Jason Aquilante enters the spring as the starter after spending last season as the primary backup to veteran Sunny Chiou. Aquilante displayed a solid bat (.283 in 99 at bats) and a steady glove (.974 fielding percentage) in limited play last season and now appears to be ready for full time responsibility.
Sophomore Chase Voshell enters the 1999 season as the starter at shortstop after starting 34 games as a rookie at that position a year ago. Although he struggled with the bat, Voshell displayed flashes of brilliance in the field last season and he could now be ready for a breakthrough year.
Senior Josh Otten, who has played in 126 games in his career, will be a factor both at shortstop and second base. Although he missed much of fall practice with a back injury, Otten is coming off his most productive season when he hit .286 in 42 games. Junior Chris Turner is an experienced player who can play three infield positions and gives Greer the luxury of a veteran who can fill in where needed.
Multi-talented sophomore Danny Borrell can play first base, but he will see most of his action in 1999 as a designated hitter and on the mound. A freshman All-America selection last season, Borrell hit .339 with five home runs and 41 RBI in 56 games and provides a consistent bat in the everyday lineup for the Deacons.
OUTFIELD
Senior Ben Danosky has been an anchor in right field for three years, and last season he was the lone player to start all 66 games. Danosky hit .292 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI in a school-record 274 at bats in 1998 and Greer expects more of the same solid play from him this spring.
"Every inning of every game, you can count on Ben Danosky," says Greer. "He's like a rock, he does everything that you ask him to do. And he may be the best clutch hitter on our team, too."
Senior Scott Daeley emerged as a star in center field last season, batting .299 with a team-high 17 stolen bases. He added a page to his resume as he starred for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League last summer and led the league in stolen bases.
"I think Scott is the best center fielder in the league," boasts the Deacon skipper. "He really came on in the second half of last year to prove that he was an excellent defensive outfielder, an excellent base runner and an excellent hitter."
The left field position is up for grabs in 1999 and a number of different players could claim the regular starting job. Most likely, however, it will be a combination of players who hold down the position during the season. Junior Stephen Sullivan is a left handed hitter who is a solid defensive outfielder with good speed and a good arm. Although he was inconsistent at the plate last season, he showed tremendous improvement during fall practice and should be a key factor in left field this season.
Freshman John Kubachka missed much of fall practice with nagging injuries, but should be in top shape when the season begins. A tremendous power prospect, Kubachka could see time in left field, first base or at DH this season. Junior Ricky Mendez is another power hitter who could see time against left handed pitching this season. An extremely versatile player, Mendez also adds depth at first and third base.
Sophomore Matt Price saw limited action last spring, but could see his playing time increase this season. An excellent athlete, Price showed tremendous improvement during fall practice. Sophomore Carlos Brackley, who etched his place in Wake Forest history with his dramatic game-winning grand slam against Illinois in the NCAA South Regional, is in the mix here, too.
Freshman Matt Brennie is a punter on the Wake Forest football team who may have pro potential on the baseball diamond. Brennie, who can play any of the outfield positions and has excellent speed, will have to work hard in the spring as he missed all of fall practice while on the gridiron.
PITCHING
The workhorse and ace of the Demon Deacon pitching staff is senior southpaw John Hendricks, a first-team All-American selection a year ago and the 1998 ACC Tournament MVP. Hendricks, who ranked third in the nation with 13 victories, went 13-4 with a 3.14 ERA in a school-record 143.1 innings pitched. The change-up and control specialist went though one stretch last season where he tossed 10 consecutive complete games.
"John is a surgeon on the mound," says Greer. "He carves up the hitters and eats up innings. It's great to have a guy like him to anchor a staff."
While Hendricks may be the "ace" of the staff, the distinction of having the best "stuff" likely belongs to junior right-hander Mike MacDougal. A potential top-round draft pick, MacDougal combines an outstanding fastball with a deadly slider to keep opposing hitters at bay. Although he struggled last spring with his control, he remained virtually unhittable and has all the potential to have an outstanding season this spring.
"Mike really came on during the fall," Greer says. "He's got a more mature approach to baseball and I think he's in a position to be one of the premier pitchers not only in the ACC but in the country. "
Rounding out the weekend starting rotation is junior Eric Schmitt, and all he does is win. Another potential early-round draft pick, the powerful righty's career record stands at 13-1 after going 8-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 77.2 innings last spring.
"Eric is a horse on the mound, just give him the ball and let him go," says Greer. "He's got command of a number of different pitches and is ready to assume a prominent role this season."
Two sophomores -- righty Scott Siemon and lefty Borrell - will likely fill out the weekday rotation and see bullpen duty on the weekends. Although he pitched just 7.2 innings last season before a shoulder injury kept him off the mound, Siemon displayed a healthy pitching arm over the summer in the Alaska League and is expected to be a key figure on the staff in 1999. Borrell, who went 3-3 in 57.1 innings last year, made his mark on the mound with his complete game victory over Florida State in the championship game of the ACC Tournament.
Junior right-hander Matt Briggs will be one of the first pitchers out of the bullpen in 1999 after posting a solid 4.43 ERA in 22.1 innings last season. Joining him in the bullpen are Bush, a power right-hander with an outstanding slider, and a trio of lefties - sophomore Josh Bartlett and freshmen Adam Heaps and J.J. Moult. Also in the mix here is junior righty Ricky Paugh, who redshirted last season and now appears to be ready to challenge for a spot among the top relievers.
As the Demon Deacons look to the 1999 season, they face perhaps their most challenging schedule in recent memory. In addition to the always challenging ACC schedule, included on the '99 slate are non-conference matchups with Auburn, Georgia, West Virginia, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech. The Deacs will also face their local rivals, including UNC Charlotte and Virginia Commonwealth, both NCAA Tournament participants a year ago, and UNC Greensboro, the Southern Conference regular season champion.
"We had a great season in 1998," says Greer. "But now its time to build on what we did last year and focus on what we want to accomplish this year."
And with this talented group of veterans and newcomers composing the 1999 squad, the future of Wake Forest baseball appears extremely bright.
