Former Heights standout signs with Maryland
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 21 2010 11:33 PM
By Alex Byington
Killeen Daily HeraldKorey Wacker will never be a physically dominating player.
But whatever limitations there might be for the 5-foot-8 pitcher/outfielder, he has never let it deter him.
"I'm undersized, but I think with hard work and dedication and the right skill set, anybody can do anything," Wacker said. "I'm a firm believer of 'I'm not going to let anybody tell me that I'm not good enough to do something' until I've tried it and proved it to myself."
That's why, after most people said he was too small to play Division I college baseball out of high school, the former Harker Heights left-hander signed with the University of Maryland earlier this month following a successful two-year stint at Temple College.
"So far, I think I've proved a lot, but overall, I have a long way to go toward getting better each and every day, and hopefully the Maryland coaches can help me bring other skills to my game and improve as a player and as a person," he continued.
Wacker, who was one of seven spring signings for the Terps, chose Maryland over offers from Texas-based schools Baylor, Angelo State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the UT-Arlington.
"Our coaching staff has done a great job in putting together a recruiting class that will help catapult our program into an ACC championship contender," said second-year Maryland baseball coach Erik Bakich in a press release last week.
Last season, Maryland finished 17-39 overall and 5-25 in Atlantic Coast Conference and was statistically the ACC's worst team, finishing with a conference-low .258 team batting average and conference-high 7.19 earned run average, both categories Wacker believes he can provide help to.
"They really want me to come in and be an impact player defensively position-wise, and on the mound," Wacker said. "We talked a lot about me playing outfield and then coming in to pitch when they need me.
"It's all going to depend on myself, and if I go out there and show I deserve to be out there," he continued.
During his sophomore campaign at Temple College, Wacker led the Leopards in batting average (.385), hits (72), stolen bases (18) and triples (4) as the team's leadoff hitter and starting center fielder.
At Harker Heights, Wacker was the team's ace on the mound, finishing his prep career with a 20-6 record in three years.
Wacker's crowning moment last season came when recorded the win in Temple's 6-5, 13-inning victory over McLennan Community College in the NJCAA Region V Tournament title game. Wacker pitched the final two innings and scored two runs as the Leopards advanced to the Junior College World Series.
The Leopards only went 2-2 at the JCWS, but Wacker batted 6-for-18 (.333) with four runs and five RBIs.
Maryland will open the 2011 season with a four-game series at the University of Texas in Austin, meaning Wacker will get a chance to play against his favorite school growing up.
"I just feel like this is going to be a good choice for myself and it's a great experience," Wacker said. "I'm just overwhelmed and ready to show them what I've got and play some baseball."
Contact Alex Byington at
alexb@kdhnews.com or at (254) 501-7566.