Sept. 24, 2002
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Seven former Wake Forest Demon Deacons were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference's 50th Anniversary baseball team, the league announced on Tuesday. The Wake Forest honorees are Jake Austin, Tommy Gregg, Mike MacDougal, Billy Merrifield, Jon Palmieri, Billy Scripture and Brick Smith.
Clemson led all league schools with twelve members on the Golden Anniversary team while Georgia Tech came in second with nine honorees. Wake Forest and NC State each had seven players selected, followed by Florida State (6), North Carolina (4), Duke (3), Maryland (2) and Virginia with two.
Jake Austin, Wake Forest (1989-1992)
A four-time All-ACC selection ... Wake Forest's all-time leader in home runs (55), triples (13) and at-bats with 919 ... ranks seventh all-time in the ACC in home runs (55) and RBI (236).
Tommy Gregg, Wake Forest (1982-1985)
A three-time first team All-ACC selection ... went on to play nine seasons in the major leagues, most notably with the Atlanta Braves ... finished his Wake Forest career with 100 stolen bases, fourth-best in ACC history ... his five stolen bases in a single game in 1984 still ties for an ACC record.
Mike MacDougal, Wake Forest (1997-1999)
A two-time All-ACC selection ... went 13-2 with a 2.37 ERA on Wake Forest's 1999 ACC Championship team ... fanned 108 batters in 114 innings ... struck out 288 batters in just three seasons ... was the first round draft pick of Kansas City in 1999 and made his major league debut with the Royals in the summer of 2001.
Bill Merrifield, Wake Forest (1980-1983)
Earned ACC Player of the Year honors in 1982 and 83 ... batted .389 in 1982 with 20 HR and 61 RBI ... hit .476 in 1983 with 17 HR and 64 RBI ... his .476 average is still the second best single season batting average in ACC history ... his .400 career batting average ranks third all-time in ACC history.
Jon Palmieri, Wake Forest (1996-1999)
A two-time All-American who led the ACC in hitting in 1998 and 99 ... Wake Forest's all-time leader in runs (23), hits (338), doubles (82) and RBI (241) ... still holds the Wake Forest record for hits in a single season with 112, accomplishing the feat in 1998 and 99 ... led the Deacons to back-to-back ACC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances ... his .395 career batting average ranks fourth all-time in ACC history ... his 82 doubles are tied for the most in ACC history.
Billy Scripture, Wake Forest (1962-1964)
A three-time first team All-ACC selection and a two-time consensus All-American ... led Wake Forest to back-to-back ACC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 1962 and 63 ... batted .360 for the 1963 team with 13 HR and 54 RBI, leading the ACC in both HR and RBI.
Brick Smith, Wake Forest (1978-1981)
A four-time first team All-ACC selection ... the 1981 ACC Player of the Year who hit .410 with 18 HR and 45 RBI ... was also named All-American by the ABCA and Baseball America that season ... played two seasons in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners in 1987 and 88.
