Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Cecere, Demon Deacons Finding Their Stride at Midway Point
4/21/2022 10:15:00 AM | Baseball
At the midway point of the ACC season, it's balance both offensively and on the mound that is pacing Wake Forest Baseball toward the top of the conference and helping it rise in the national rankings.
Nick Kurtz and Brock Wilken are a fearsome twosome at the top of the batting order, and guys like Tommy Hawke, Pierce Bennett and Danny Corona are dangerous at the bottom.
In the middle, Michael Turconi, Brendan Tinsman and Adam Cecere have combined for 27 home runs and 114 RBIs this season.
Cecere, a 6-foot-5 third-year sophomore left fielder from Pennsylvania, is holding down the five-hole spot for the Demon Deacons — batting .310 with six home runs and 32 runs batted in.
He set the tone early this season with two late-game home runs that proved to be the difference in a 6-4 home victory over VCU.
"We knew VCU was a good team who played in a regional last year," Cecere said. "They're predicted to win their conference and play deep into the postseason, so we knew it was going to be a battle. We were able to come out on top. We trust ourselves. These are the types of games that need to start going our way this year.
"We have to realize that it's a 50-plus game season. We feel like we're going to expect good things to happen this season, because we have a good team with good players."
Cecere arrived at Wake Forest with imposing size and power, but his three years with the program has helped him refine his skills and mature on the field.
"I'm becoming a more mature baseball player," he said. "I arrived here at Wake Forest pretty raw, with big size and athleticism. That's part of why I chose Wake Forest, so that they could mold me into the player I believe I can be.
"This year you're going to see somebody who loves the game and works as hard as they can day-in and day-out. You're going to see less swing-and-misses at the plate."
Wake Forest coach Tom Walter is pleased to see Cecere's evolution this season.
"He's hitting the ball the other way really well," Walter said. "We saw him hit the home run the other day to straight-away left field. He's handling off-speed pitches better than he did a year ago. He's just a more complete hitter than he was and he's running well. I'm really pleased with where Adam is right now."
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