Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Open Homestand With Xavier Tuesday
2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2006
| Game No. 10: Wake Forest vs. Xavier | |
| Records: | Demon Deacons (6-3) vs. Musketeers (2-5) |
| When: | Tues., Feb. 28 - 2:30 p.m. |
| Where: | Hooks Stadium - Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| Pitching Matchup: | WF: RHP Brad Kledzik (1-0, 4.15) XU: RHP Mark Janszen (0-0, 9.00) |
| Game Notes: | |
| Coverage: | Tuesday: |
IN THE BATTERS BOX -- Wake Forest returns home for the better part of three weeks following their 2006 Pepsi Baseball Classic Tournament championship. The Deacons defeated Ohio State, No. 10 Missouri and No. 1 Florida along the way. Wake Forest will play 13 of its next 14 within the friendly confines of Hooks Stadium, starting Tuesday with Atlantic 10 foe Xavier. First pitch with the Musketeers is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
XAVIER INSIDER -- Xavier returns 23 players including eight starters and every pitcher from the 2005 squad that finished 19-35 overall and 9-15 in the Atlantic 10. The Musketeers were picked to finish ninth in a vote conducted among the league coaches. Xavier is under new leadership in 2006 as Scott Googins takes over for former head coach Dan Simonds. Googins, an assistant for Simonds last season, will look to lead XU to the first postseason appearance since 2003. The Musketeers enter this week's game after getting swept in a three-game series at Winthrop. Xavier dropped a pair of tight ball games, 5-1 and 5-3, on Friday and Saturday, before getting drubbed 15-3 in the series finale. The trio of Danny Hayden (.414, 2 HR, 8 RBI), Sean Brewer (.412, 0 HR, 4 RBI) and Drew Roberts (.406, 3 HR, 10 RBI) lead the Musketeers offensive attack. The Xavier pitching staff has struggled so far this season. The Musketeers have an 8.08 earned run average and opponents are batting .353 against them.
RANKINGS -- Wake Forest remains unranked, despite victories over Ohio State, No. 10 Missouri and No. 1 Florida this past weekend. The Deacons, however, are rated No. 12 in the RPI. Xavier is also unranked.
ON DECK -- After this week's non-conference game with Xavier, Wake Forest will host Wright State in a three-game series at Hooks Stadium on Mar. 3-5. Wake Forest has never played either team in school history.
INJURY UPDATE -- Sophomore Brett Linnenkohl, who missed the first weekend of the season and this past weekend with a strained hamstring, remains questionable this week... redshirt sophomore Andrew Knox, who missed most of last season with a torn labrum, is available to pitch this week... freshman catcher Cory Hindel will redshirt the season following elbow surgery this past fall.
PROBABLE POSITION STARTERS --
Pos. # Player B-T Cl. GP-GS Avg. HR RBI NotesC 6 Dan Rosaia L-R R-Jr. 6-6 .333 0 4 Missed most of `05 after ankle injuryor 39 Ausin Jones R-R So. 5-5 .222 2 4 Pepsi Baseball Classic All-Tournament team1B 10 Allan Dykstra L-R Fr. 9-9 .290 1 5 Rated as No. 41 freshman in country2B 12 Andy Goff R-R So. 9-9 .314 0 4 Hitting .417 (5-12) with 2 outs; three 2-out RBI3B 9 Matt Antonelli R-R Jr. 9-9 .257 2 4 Set school record with 57 BB in `05SS 1 Dustin Hood R-R Fr. 9-9 .394 0 4 Replaces four-year starter Ben IngoldLF 2 Brett Linnenkohl L-L So. 3-3 .556 1 4 2nd most ab's in WFU freshman historyor 7 Casey Sterk R-R Sr. 7-4 .167 0 0 Started 53g in `05; sees most action against LHPRF 4 Evan Ocheltree L-L Fr. 3-2 .143 0 0 Will see most action against RHPor 22 Brian Shust R-R Jr. 9-9 .176 1 4 Owns strongest arm among outfieldersCF 37 Eric Williams B-L R-So. 9-9 .188 0 8 Transfer from Arizona State; leadoff hitterDH 26 Brendan Enick R-R R-Jr. 3-2 .200 0 1 2nd in multi-RBI games (16) in `05HITTING STREAKS -- Entering this week, three players have a hitting streak of at least three games.
Player Statistics During StreakAllan Dykstra (3) .500 (6-for-12), 1 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBIAustin Jones (3) .286, (2-for-7), 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBIBrett Linnenkohl (3) .556 (5-for-9), 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBIDEACON TIDBITS --
- The victory for Wake Forest over No. 1 Florida on Feb. 26 is its first over the nation's top-ranked team since Apr. 26, 2002 when the Deacons defeated Clemson, 4-2.
- Junior Charlie Mellies not only tossed his third complete game in his last five starts, but also his first career shutout. It was Wake Forest's first shutout since Feb. 11, 2003 when the Deacons blanked Appalachian State, 26-0. Former All-American Kyle Sleeth was the last Demon Deacon to toss a complete game shutout -- blanking Maryland on Apr. 19, 2002.
- Wake Forest captured the 2006 Pepsi Baseball Classic Tournament title and finished the weekend as the only undefeated team. After defeating No. 10 Missouri Saturday night, Sunday's victory over Florida gave the Demon Deacons consecutive wins over ranked opponents for the first time since Mar. 15 and 16 of 2002.
- Sophomore closer Ben Hunter has been nearly perfect this season. The right-hander has not allowed an earned run in his six appearances. Hunter has already struck out 14 in only 9.1 innings. Hunter was exceptional last week as he registered a victory over Charlotte and saves against Ohio State and No. 10 Missouri.
- The Wake Forest pitching staff was absolutely dominant this past weekend at the Pepsi Baseball Classic. The Demon Deacons allowed just four earned runs all weekend against Ohio State, No. 10 Missouri and No. 1 Florida. Wake Forest posted a 1.33 earned run average and the Buckeyes, Tigers and Gators hit a combined .174. u After opening his Wake Forest career 3-for-19 (.158), freshman Allan Dykstra found his stroke this past weekend. The first basemen batted .500 (6-for-12) with a couple doubles, a home run and four RBI. Dykstra belted his first career home run, a three run shot, against Ohio State.
- Sophomore Weldon Woodall did not register a single plate appearance in 2005, but the designated hitter made his first career start on Friday against Ohio State. After failing to pick up a hit against the Buckeyes, Woodall went 5-for-8 with a run scored and two RBI in victories over No. 10 Missouri and No. 1 Florida.
MORE FROM THE PEPSI BASEBALL CLASSIC --
- Wake Forest registered victories over members of the Big 10, Big 12 and SEC in the same season for the first time in school history. The Demon Deacons are the first ACC school to accomplish such a feat since Florida State defeated Nebraska, Michigan State and Florida in 2004.
- The Demon Deacons allowed a total of five runs, only four of which were earned, all weekend at the Pepsi Baseball Classic. The four earned runs are the fewest allowed by a Wake Forest pitching staff since 1998 when the Deacons allowed just three earned runs in victories over UNC Wilmington (twice) and Radford. That weekend, Wake Forest yielded only three earned runs.
- After Ohio State scored in the top of the first inning on a solo home run, Wake Forest answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning and never trailed the rest of the weekend -- a span of 25.2 consecutive innings.
- In addition to Charlie Mellies being named MVP, sophomore closer Ben Hunter, sophomore catcher Austin Jones and freshman Allan Dykstra were each named to the Pepsi Baseball Classic All-Tournament team.
ACC PITCHER OF THE WEEK -- Wake Forest junior Charlie Mellies was named ACC Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 27. The junior earned the award after tossing a five-hit, complete game shutout of No. 1 Florida. Mellies is the first Demon Deacon to receive ACC Pitcher of the Week since Kyle Sleeth earned the award on Mar. 24, 2003.
HOME OPENERS -- Wake Forest slipped past Charlotte, 4-3, in 10 innings on Feb. 21. The Demon Deacons have won their home opener 19 of the past 20 years.
ON THIS DATE IN DEACON HISTORY -- February 28 -- The seventh-ranked Wake Forest baseball team improved to 5-1 on the season with a 7-3 victory over Minnesota in the 2003 Dairy Queen Classic. The game was played in the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Kyle Sleeth improved to 3-0 with the win. He pitched eight innings, allowed three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and a walk. It was Sleeth's 23rd consecutive victory.
OPENING WEEKENDS -- Wake Forest has now dropped three consecutive season openers. The Deacons lost to Rice to open 2004, Winthrop in 2005 and now Charlotte. Dating back to the 1958 season (the last 50 years), Wake Forest is 30-20 on opening day. The Demon Deacons are 0-2 under Rick Rembielak on opening day and Rembielak is 6-7 all-time in his career.
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW -- Wake Forest freshman Dustin Hood had quite a debut for the Demon Deacons against Charlotte. The shortstop had seven hits in the twin bill, including five in the nightcap. Hood, who went 5-for-5 with an RBI double and two runs scored, became the first Deacon rookie to record five hits in a single game since Bill Merrifield went 5-for-8 against Georgia Tech on April 4, 1981.
YOUTH SERVING THE DEACONS WELL -- Wake Forest started three true freshman in its season opener against Charlotte on Feb. 12 -- first basemen Allan Dykstra, left fielder Evan Ocheltree and shortstop Dustin Hood. The Deacons also used a pair of rookies out of the bullpen as well in southpaw Garrett Bullock and right-hander Brad Kledzik.
IN THE BOOKS -- Wake Forest had a number of players that recorded firsts in the season-opening doubleheader against Charlotte. In addition to the Demon Deacon debuts of five true freshman and two transfers (So., Ben Hunter, So., Austin Jones and R-So., Eric Williams), Allan Dykstra, Dustin Hood, Jones and Williams each picked up their first career hits. Dykstra, Hood and Williams also had RBIs. Hunter, who made 13 starts last season for Furman, registered his first career save, while junior Brian Shust smacked his first career home run.
NATIONAL FLAVOR -- As is usually the case, the Demon Deacon baseball roster is made up from players across the United States. This year, however, it's even more apparent as 30 of the 32 players on the roster are from outside the state of North Carolina. In fact, 15 different states, including North Carolina, are represented. The only North Carolinians on the team are pitchers Kip Byrum (Sr., Greenville, N.C.) and Garrett Bullock (Fr., Greenville, N.C.) -- both of whom attended J.H. Rose HS.
ANTONELLI NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN -- Wake Forest junior third basemen Matt Antonelli was named second team Preseason All-American by Baseball America. Antonelli, who has already been named to the Wallace Award Watch List, is the first Demon Deacon to garner Preseason All-American status since 2003.
A native of Peabody, Mass., Antonelli led Wake Forest in batting average (.332), walks (57), on-base percentage (.475) and runs scored (68) in 2005. The 57 walks set a new single-season school record surpassing the previous mark of 55 held by Billy Masse (1988). Antonelli also tied Dave Lardieri for 10th all-time in single-season school history for runs scored. He was second on the squad in hits (77) and doubles (22).
DEMON DEACONS RETURN FIVE STARTERS -- Wake Forest returns five position starters from last year's team. Junior Matt Antonelli started all 58 games at third base, and led the team in four offensive categories. The Deacons return the sophomore starting tandem of second basemen Andy Goff and left-fielder Brett Linnenkohl. Goff (.197 BA, 2 HRs, 32 RBI) started 57 games last season, while Linnenkohl (.253 BA, 4 HRs, 44 RBI) was one of only four players to start all 58 games last year. Senior outfielder Casey Sterk is another returning position starter for the Deacons in 2006. Sterk, who played in 56 games and started 53, batted .250 with a home run and 24 RBI. The final returning starter is redshirt junior designated hitter Brendan Enick. Enick (.311 BA, 5 HRs, 45 RBI) had a breakthrough season in 2005 after just three career at-bats over his first two seasons.
ARM(ED) SERVICES -- Wake Forest returns seven pitchers that recorded 40 or more IP last season, including five hurlers with 50 or more IP. That does not include redshirt senior Justin Keadle. Keadle, who missed all of 2005 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, led the Deacons with 88.1 innings pitched in 2004.
Keadle and a pair of junior RHPs, Josh Ellis and Charlie Mellies, anchor the starting rotation. Ellis, last year's No. 1 starter, went 6-4 and led the squad in wins, starts (14) and innings pitched (86.1). He tossed at least 6.0 innings in nine of his 14 starts and worked into the seventh inning five times. Mellies went just 3-5, but posted a respectable 4.17 earned run average and closed his season at the top of his game. He hurled back-to-back complete games against Clemson (May 15) and Duke (May 24). He pitched in 18 games, made 10 starts, and led the staff with two complete games.
Wake Forest also returns senior Kyle Young (4-1, 3.06 ERA, 53.0 IP), sophomore Eric Niesen (5-2, 7.43 ERA, 49.3 IP), sophomore Matt Hammond (3-6, 10.69, 51.1 IP) and senior Kip Byrum (3-2, 7.52 ERA, 52.2 IP) -- all of whom will get most of their work out of the bullpen. Young served as the club's closer in 2005 and led the staff in ERA and saves (6).
ANTONELLI, DYKSTRA NAMED TO FAB 50 -- Wake Forest junior Matt Antonelli was named to Baseball America's Fab 50: Juniors. Antonelli, a third basemen, was listed as the No. 27 junior prospect in the country. Allan Dykstra was named to the same list for freshman. Dykstra was rated as the No. 41 freshman in the country.
DEACONS TO HAVE 26 HOME DATES IN 2006 -- Wake Forest will play 26 games within the "friendly confines" of Hooks Stadium during the 2006 season, starting with Charlotte on Feb. 21. Other non-conference teams slated to visit Winston-Salem this season are: Xavier (Feb. 28), Wright State (March 3-5), Elon (March 8), Quinnipiac (March 14), High Point (March 21), Coastal Carolina (April 4), UNC Greensboro (April 12) and Davidson (April 18). The Demon Deacons are scheduled to open their ACC schedule at home, starting with a three-game series against North Carolina (March 10-12). Wake Forest will also host ACC foes Boston College (March 17-19), Virginia Tech (March 31-April 2), Maryland (April 21-23) and Florida State (May 5-7).
DEACONS PICKED TO FINISH EIGHTH BY ACC COACHES -- Wake Forest was picked to finish eighth in the 2006 ACC preseason baseball poll, as determined by a vote of the league's 12 head coaches. The Demon Deacons received a total of 59 points.
School Points 2005 Record1. Clemson (8) 139 43-23, 21-92. Georgia Tech (2) 128 45-19, 22-83. North Carolina (2) 126 41-19-1, 17-10-14. Florida State 107 53-20, 19-115. Miami 95 41-19-1, 19-10-16. NC State 86 41-19, 17-137. Virginia 72 41-20, 14-148. Wake Forest 59 28-30, 12-189. Boston College 41 37-20, 17-8 Big East10. Maryland 38 25-31, 7-2311. Virginia Tech 30 23-28, 7-1912. Duke 15 14-39, 5-25WAKE FOREST SCHEDULE LOADED -- The Demon Deacons will be up against another extremely difficult schedule as Wake Forest has four of Baseball America's Preseason Top 10 teams, including 2005 NCAA runner-up Florida. The Deacs will not only face two other opponents among the top 25, but challenge other NCAA Regional qualifiers' like Coastal Carolina, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Quinnipiac and Virginia. In all, 25 of Wake's 56 regular season games will come against teams either ranked in the top 25 or NCAA Tournament participants.
TRI-CAPTAINS -- Seniors Justin Keadle and Grant Achilles, as well as junior Charlie Mellies, have been chosen as team tri-captains for the 2006 season.
DEACONS IN THE MAJORS -- During the history of Wake Forest baseball, a total of 32 former players have made it to the majors. The 2005 season proved to be a tremendous year for Wake Forest as four former Deacons played at least one game in the major leagues (Dave Bush, Kevin Jarvis, Mike MacDougal and Cory Sullivan).
TUESDAY STARTER -- #27 Fr., RHP Brad Kledzik (1-0, 4.15 ERA)
Kledzik made his first career start on Feb. 21 against Charlotte... struck out seven in 5.0 innings against the 49ers... allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits in the no decision.
KLEDZIK'S LAST...
Victory: 2.17.06 vs. UNC Wilmington (9-7)... number of starts since then -- 1 Complete Game: -- Shutout: -- Fanning 3 Batters In Inning: -- Fanning 2 Batters In Inning: last time 2.21.06 vs. Charlotte (3rd)
CAREER BESTS...
Low-Hit Complete Game: -- Most Strikeouts: 7, vs. Charlotte on 2.21.06 Longest Winning Streak: 1 game, 2.17.06 to present
VS. THE MUSKETEERS...
Career: -- 2005: --
DATE SITE RESULT IP H R ER BB SO-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Year ERA W-L G GS CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO2006 4.15 1-0 3 1 0 0 8.2 14 5 4 3 10TOTAL 4.15 1-0 3 1 0 0 8.2 14 5 4 3 10
