Wake Forest players having fun during College World Series run

Wake Forest knocked off LSU in a thrilling 3-2 contest on Monday night to advance to the semifinals of the College World Series, awaiting the winner of LSU and Tennessee. Through it all, Wake Forest players were having the time of their lives.

The Demon Deacons hadn’t been to the College World Series since 1955, the last time they won it all.

That’s one of the reasons the coaching staff has emphasized enjoying the experience.

“It’s just to celebrate this so much because like you might only come here one time,” catcher Bennett Lee said. “So we just really try to have a lot of fun and by having a lot of fun you’re loose and it allows your abilities to take over. So I love these guys, and it’s pretty special.”

Nowhere was that looseness more clear than in the final innings of an intense winner’s bracket game against LSU.

Trailing 2-0, Wake Forest managed to tie the game in the sixth inning, then pushed across the eventual winning run in the eighth inning. Then held on for dear life.

But none of it unsettled Wake Forest players in the least.

“We have a bunch of unwavering faith,” pitcher Josh Hartle said. “Doesn’t matter if we’re down 10-0 or up 10-0. We’re never out of a game. And just kudos to our team. The camaraderie, chemistry with us I think is unbreakable. It’s very special and I can’t say enough about that.”

The key for Wake Forest players has been keeping the vibe loose the same way they have all season. Just because the lights are brighter and the stage is bigger in Omaha, not much changes.

Closer Camden Minacci can attest to that after sealing the major win over LSU.

“I’m a big headphones and loud music guy so I’m not always in the mix,” Minacci said. “But I can tell you without a doubt that watching them as I have my headphones on makes me so comfortable and so confident. It’s what I have to do to get ready. But I watch them have so much fun. And I go out there. How can we lose? Every single guy is having the time of their lives right now. Who can beat us? It seems pretty much impossible. So the amount of fun we have is truly incredible.”

Wake Forest players are committed to having fun the rest of the way. Win or lose.

And make no mistake about it, the Demon Deacons have done plenty of winning this year with that mentality.

“I think why we started this game is because we love it and because we’ve built incredible relationships with people,” Lee said. “The moment you lose sight of that is when really you’ve lost sight of the game and what it’s really about.”

Wake Forest will take on the winner of tonight’s game between LSU and Tennessee at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.