Wake Forest Athletics
Young Guns
2/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By Jay Reddick
When baseball coach George Greer looks out on the field on Opening Day for his team in February, he'll see plenty of new players in Wake Forest uniforms.
The Deacons are replacing over half of their everyday lineup for the 2002 season, an unenviable task for any team. But Greer has one luxury that's rare in college baseball: time.
"We only have three seniors," Greer said, "so this team will basically be together for two years. We'll have the chance to get better every day and face the bumps in the road together. That will make us a much better team in the long run."
Despite the wholesale changes and the faraway glance, though, Greer believes that WFU, after four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, is more than ready to keep that string alive.
The reasons for that start with the pitching staff, which boasts a solid weekend rotation, an abundance of depth behind the top three and an All-American waiting in the wings.
Sophomore Kyle Sleeth (10-3, 5.03 ERA) was the team's leader in victories last season, earning Freshman All-America honors, then made the Cape Cod League All-Star team this summer for Cotuit. He is likely to be the team's Friday starter in weekend series.
Juniors Ben Clayton (4-1, 5.09) and Ryan Braun (4-2, 4.53) each bring experience to their spots in the rotation. As a lefty, Clayton brings a different look to the mound, and Braun struck out more than a batter an inning last season.
Two more left-handers, freshman Tim Morley and junior college transfer Seth Hill, will anchor the team's midweek rotation.
"We could have three lefties in our top five," Greer said. "I love that."
Once you get past the starters, though, the fun really starts for opponents, because that's where the team's three seniors lie in wait.
Ryan Lewis and Brad Comer have the ability to start if needed, but will keep mostly to middle relief duties, making way for preseason All-American closer David Bush.
The fourth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays led the Deacons in earned-run average last season (2.65) while also nearly leading the team in innings pitched, a rarity for a closer. He either got a win (four) or save (16) in nearly half the Deacons' victories. Greer has called him "the best reliever in college baseball" and will depend on him in the late innings again.
Greer also hopes to get sophomore Adam Hanson indoctrinated into the late-inning mix, with junior Eric Maycroft, sophomores Danny Mackey and Gregory Russell and freshmen Brian Bach and Daniel Davidson all figuring to gain some experience in competition.
"We have plenty of depth," Greer said. "And when we get to the last couple of innings, Hanson and Bush give us as good a chance as anyone."
The changes in the field begin with the man behind the plate. Jason Aquilante is gone, but Stephen Ghutzman, who started 26 games last season and hit .308, is back. He'll battle redshirt freshman Ryder Mathias, who tore up the Great Lakes League last summer.
In the infield, second baseman Nick Blue (.291, 1 HR, 31 RBI) is the only returnee who is back at his original position. Jamie D'Antona (.364, 17, 77), a fixture at first base and in the middle of the lineup as a freshman, moves across the diamond to his natural position at third.
That makes room for Jeff Ruziecki, a transfer from Cypress (Calif.) Junior College who set a school record for home runs, at first base.
At shortstop, Durham freshman Ben Ingold should provide a steady glove. Brad Scioletti, a transfer from Army who hit well before suffering a broken leg as a freshman last year, could back up at shortstop or elsewhere.
Ryan Hubbard, another Cypress product, came to Wake Forest as an infielder but is pushing for the starting job in left field. Offseason arm surgery has limited the coaches' chance to see him this fall, but they hope to have him ready for Opening Day on Feb. 12.
In center field, the Deacons have used junior college products for the past four seasons. First, it was Scott Daeley, a scrapper who legged out hits and stole bases. Then, for the past two seasons, it's been Cory Sullivan, whose combination of ability (a .390 average), power (13 home runs, 67 RBIs) and an arm good enough to compile a 7-0 record as a pitcher made him an All-American last season.
The latest center fielder on the Deacons' roster is Adam Bourassa, who earned community college All-Star status playing for Kishwaukee Community College in Illinois. He also played in the Cape Cod League All-Star game. With Bourassa, Greer feels he has the best of both worlds.
"He's kind of a cross between Sullivan and Daeley," Greer said. "He's Daeley's size, and he'll do anything to get on base. Plus, he's a lefty, and has a good arm.
Junior Ryan Johnson, who led the team in hitting over the second half of the schedule and went 7 for 12 in the ACC Tournament, returns as the everyday right fielder.
Sophomore Doug Riepe, who saw action in just nine games last season, may be the designated hitter. He could also see time at first, third or in left.
"Doug's ready to bust out," Greer said. "We'll need his bat in the lineup to supply the long ball for us."
The Deacons' schedule is tough as always, with trips to Rice and New Orleans, a visit from Georgia and series against four top-25 teams from the ACC alone. Even so, Greer believes the team has the talent to get through it all.
"I know we have a lot of talent," Greer said. "We haven't played anybody yet. I still don't know if we'll get the two-out hit with runners on second and third, or if we'll turn the double play with the tying run on in the ninth. But we have the capability to do it, and that's what I'm counting on."
