Written by Shelton Moss
2021 Turks Webcast Announcer

Turks Coach Bob Wease has had the Turks since 1990. Over the last 31 years there has been a lot of young men play for him at Veterans Memorial Park. Many of those players went on to other careers after their college days were over. However, many of them went on to play in the MLB while others continued in the game of baseball through coaching. One of those outstanding men is Head Coach Tom Walter of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons played for the Turks in 1990. Coach Walter is entering his 12th year heading the Wake Forest program. Coach Wease has maintained a friendship with Coach Walter over the years and has recruited a lot of his Deacons.

This year is no different. We signed two Demon Deacons that we are excited to have join the Turks at JMU Veterans Memorial Park.

Eric Adler, a 6’3 190 pound right-hand pitcher from Melbourne, FL made four appearances for Wake Forest as a freshman during the 2020 COVID season. He did not allow an earned run in 4.2 IP and help opposing hitters to a .118 batting average. Adler was a Perfect Game top-500 prospect out of Rockledge HS (FL) where he lettered in varsity baseball for four years and football for one. His father, Marlon, was a four-year starting quarter back at Missouri from 1982-85, and his grandfather, Donnie, was a running back for the Tigers from 1958-60. Adler chose Wake Forest over offers from several baseball powerhouses including Kentucky, Virginia, and Florida State.

Derek Crum, a 5’11 170 pound freshman started 14 of Wake Forest’s 18 games in center field during the shortened 2020 season, where he hit .244 with one homer and three RBIs. A graduate of Gaither High School in Tampa, Florida he was rated as the No. 275 recruit nationally by Prep Baseball Report. In his high school career, Crum hit .314 with 40 RBIs and owned a 2.62 career ERA on the mound. He comes from an athletic family; Crum’s father, Derek, and uncle Ricky, played baseball at Tuskegee University (AL); his uncle, Maurice, played football and baseball at Miami and was inducted into the Miami Hall of Fame; his cousin Maurice III played football at Notre Dame; and his other cousin, Quayin, plays football at Florida. 

Looking forward to an exciting summer of Turks baseball with these two Wake Forest Demon Deacons!