Wake Forest has first game today

Wake Forest will open its baseball season today at its new home, Wake Forest Baseball Park, formerly known as Ernie Shore Field.

The Deacons are the hosts of the Wake Forest Invitational, which will start this morning and run through Sunday. Akron, Old Dominion and Marshall also will play, with Akron and Marshall meeting in the first game at 11 a.m. today. Wake Forest will play Akron at 6 tonight in its opener.

Admission is free for all games this weekend.

Wake Forest bought the ballpark last year from the city of Winston-Salem, which is building a new downtown stadium for the minor-league Winston-Salem Dash.

But the Deacons are actually returning to their old home. They played at Ernie Shore for many years before moving to an on-campus field in 1981. That facility, known first as Layton Field and later as Gene Hooks Stadium, will be converted to a practice facility for the men's and women's golf teams.

Wake Forest played occasionally at Ernie Shore after moving to campus, the last time in 2002 as the host for an NCAA regional.

The ballpark has had several upgrades, including a renovated clubhouse for the Deacons. Old plywood on the outfield wall has been removed, replaced and repainted, and the wall has been lowered from 24 feet to 8 feet, except in center field, where the wall remains at the original height. A new batting cage is under construction and is expected to be completed later in the season.

Wake Forest Invitational Schedule

Today: Akron vs. Marshall, 11 a.m.; Old Dominion vs. Marshall, 2:30; Wake Forest vs. Akron, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Old Dominion vs. Marshall, 11 a.m.; Wake Forest vs. Akron, 2:30; Wake Forest vs. Old Dominion, 6 p.m.

Sunday: Akron vs. Old Dominion, 11 a.m.; Wake Forest vs. Marshall, 2:30

Team capsules Wake Forest

2008 record: 25-31

Coach: Rick Rembielak (fifth season at Wake Forest)

Top returning hitters: IF Dustin Hood (.306, 2 HRs, 33 RBIs); C Mike Murray (.302, 6 HRs, 36 RBIs)

Top returning pitchers: RH Brad Kledzik (3-5, 7.51 ERA, 4 saves, 56 IP); LH Garrett Bullock (3-5, 6.31, 55 IP)

Of note: Wake Forest must replace slugging first baseman Allan Dykstra, its top hitter last season and a first-round draft pick by the San Diego Padres. Three freshman infielders might offer some help: Shane Kroker, a shortstop from Westlake Village, Calif., has above-average speed and athleticism. Carlos Lopez, from Boynton Beach, Fla., led the team in home runs and RBIs in fall practice and is expected to start at third base. Austin Stadler, from Midlothian, Va., hit .396 in the fall, will replace Dykstra at first base and is also competing for a spot in the weekend pitching rotation. Wake Forest also has high hopes for RHP Daniel Marrs, a teammate of Stadler's at James River High School who can start or close. Two freshmen from local schools are also in the pitching mix -- RH Michael Dimock from High Point Wesleyan and LH Zach White from North Davidson.

Akron

2008 record: 25-24

Coach: Pat Bangston (fourth season at Akron)

Top returning hitters: SS Kevin Haas (.347, 2 HRs, 30 RBIs); C John Turk (.313, 3 HRs, 38 RBIs)

Top returning pitchers: RH Frank Turocy (6-3, 4.62 ERA, 78 IP); LH Drew Turocy (4-3, 5.88, 64 IP)

Of note: The Turocy brothers, senior Frank and sophomore Drew, combined to start more than half of Akron's games last season (25 of 49). Drew also saw played the outfield and hit .310. A third Turocy brother, Jared, has signed with the Zips and will be a freshman next season. Senior OF Brett Savage is back after missing most of last season with an injury; he batted .344 as a sophomore. Last year's winning record was Akron's first in 11 seasons.

Old Dominion

2008 Record: 25-27

Coach: Jerry Meyers (fifth season at ODU)

Top returning hitters: SS Gerard Hall (.361, 13-13 stolen bases); 3B Jake McAloose (.285, 4 HRs, 28 RBIs)

Top returning pitchers: RH Robbie Watkins (0-1, 4.83 ERA, 33 Ks, 31 IP); LH Kyle Hald (3-3, 5.02 ERA, 43 IP)

Of note: ODU must rebuild a staff that lost four pitchers to the pros in last year's MLB draft. Meyers has the pedigree to do it -- he was the pitching coach for the 2008 U.S. national team that won the gold medal in the FISU World Championships in Europe with a 24-0 record and 0.88 ERA. Meyers also has been the pitching coach at UNC Wilmington (1992-95) and South Carolina (1997-2004).

Marshall

2008 Record: 30-30-1

Coach: Jeff Waggoner (third season at Marshall)

Top returning hitters: Nate Lape (.388, 17 HRs, 63 RBIs); DH/C Victor Gomez (.358, 11 HRs, 47 RBIs)

Top returning pitchers: RH Dan Straily (5-4, 4.28 ERA, 82 IP); RH Arik Sikula (2-3, 4.12, 8 saves)

Of note: Lape, who transferred from North Carolina before the 2007 season, was voted the preseason player of the year in Conference USA. Gomez was named to the Louisville Slugger freshman All-America team. SS Adam Yeager (.322) led the nation with 47 stolen bases, including five in one game. The Herd's 30 wins last season set a program record.