Baseball Season Preview

As much as the incredibly frigid weather that we've experienced in eastern Nebraska doesn't suggest it, the start of the 2007 college baseball season is upon us. Ed Servais' Bluejays will come into the new season after experiencing some growing pains in 2006 while attempting to defend their 2005 MVC championship, but will look to contend for both the league championship and the NCAA regionals again in the new year.

Last year, the Jays had to develop an almost entirely new infield, losing key senior leadership in players such as Tony Roth and Brad Dutton as well as the loss of Eric Wordekemper to the New York Yankees in the MLB amateur draft. Coming into this season, some of the keys will be replacing the hole in the lineup created by the departure of Zach Daegas, who was one of the most productive offensive players ever to play at Creighton. Also, the Jays are going to look to create more offensive consistency than they were able to muster last season. It was a struggle all year long developing a true leadoff man and providing consistent protection for Daegas and Chris Gradoville in the middle of the lineup. Replacing some of that thunder in the middle of the lineup will be key as well. Throughout his freshman season, Darin Ruf showed many flashes of the sort of masher that he is capable of becoming. He will need to continue to develop, as well as the team's ability to drive in runs in general.

Going into last season, there was much concern about the front of the starting rotation. Would the Jays be able to fill the void made by the loss of Wordekemper and would Marc Lewis and Jeff Daneff be able to return and be effective? For Lewis, it was very much a sketchy consideration after Lewis' had his season ended early in 2005 after blowing out his elbow while warming up for a start, requiring Tommy John surgery. Famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews of Alabama (who also performed the labrum surgery on Nate Funk around the same time) worked his magic, but even he was amazed at the break-neck progress that Lewis showed in his recovery. Marc was back on the mound in less than a calendar year and just proceeded to post a 6-0 record and sub 2.0 ERA in MVC play, on his way to being first team All-MVC. Lewis was selected by Milwaukee in the 26th round of the MLB draft however, as Steven Pivovar details in his work in the Omaha World-Herald, Lewis was clear that he believed his commitment to come to Creighton was a four year deal and he felt obliged to complete his time in Omaha. Behind Lewis in the rotation will be up in the air early. Young Zak Moore from Elkhorn shifted both between a closer's role as well as the starting rotation last season and he will be leaned on early. A lot of the younger arms in the stable will get auditions early to help shift out roles. Also, another key will be if the Jays can find another reliable option to come out of the pen late and compliment the senior Scott Reese. Reese was most effective when he was paired with the hard throwing Brandon Bird in 2005. Finding that offspeed/hard throwing tandem will be an important question to be resolved.

Another major storyline coming into the season will be the overhaul of the coaching staff assisting Coach Servais this season. The first departure was pitching coach Travis Wyckoff leaving to take the head coaching job at Des Moines (IA) Area Community College. Next, assistant coach Spencer Allen left Creighton to take a position with the Detroit Tigers organization. To replace Wyckoff at the helm of the staff, Servais tapped Purdue pitching coach Rob Smith. Smith had spent five years with the Boilermakers, cutting the ERA of the staff by almost two runs during that period and developed the most productive and successful pitching staff in the Big Ten by the end of his tenure. Replacing Allen is former Iowa Western Community College assistant Jason Shockey, older brother of former Bluejay outfielder Colin Shockey. While Shockey was at IWCC, the Reivers were a top 10 squad in NJCAA Division one each of his three years, as well as developing 18 sophomores into NCAA Division I players. Also, coming home to fill in as a volunteer assistant is former Bluejay ace Tom Oldham. Oldham had been a rising star in the Seattle Mariners organization before suffering a career ending injury last summer. Oldham is in the top 10 in innings pitched and strikeouts as a Jay and was a first team All-MVC pick in 2002.

The Jays will begin the 2007 regular season at the Winthrop Challenge in Rock Hill, SC. First up in the four team event will be the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb University. First pitch is 11:30 AM on Friday, February 9th.

2007 Roster Breakdown
Position	Players
Pitchers	RHP #10 Zak Moore, So. (6-2, R/R) RHP #12 Ty Johnston, So. (6-2, R/R) RHP #17 Josh Gow, Jr. (6-2, R/R) RHP #24 Andy Masten, Sr. (6-1, R/R) RHP #28 David Merchant, Jr. (6-5, R/R) RHP #30 Matt Bowers, So. (6-2, R/R) RHP #32 Bob Lakovic, Fr. (6-0, R/R) RHP #34 Teddy Ogilvie, Sr. (6-2, R/R) RHP #35 Dan Stanley, Jr. (6-1, R/R) RHP #38 Casey Schmidt, Fr. (6-3, R/R) SHP #27 Pat Venditte, Jr. (6-1, S/S) LHP #13 Greg Hellhake, Fr. (6-1, L/L) LHP #14 Ben Mancuso, Jr. (6-0, L/L) LHP #18 T.J. Roemmich, Fr. (6-1, L/L) LHP #19 Marc Lewis, Sr. (6-0, L/L) LHP #22 Chris Marchildon, Sr. (6-1, L/L) LHP #23 Ian Dike, Fr. (6-3, L/L) LHP #36 Jack Van Leur, Fr. (6-3, L/R) LHP #40 Scott Reese, Sr. (6-6, L/L/)
Catchers	#16 Brett Mieras, Jr. (6-0, R/R) #20 Chris Gradoville, Sr. (6-3, R/R) #32 Bob Lackovic, Fr. (6-0, R/R) #33 Dan Blair, So. (6-1, R/R) #37 Brett Clark, Fr. (6-0, L/R)
Infielders	#1 Michael Lam, Jr. (5-9, R/R) #3 Jimmy Swift, Fr. (6-2, R/R) #4 Ryan Urzendowski, Sr. (6-1, R/R) #7 Chad Ogden, Sr. (5-10, R/R) #8 Steve Winkelmann, Jr. (6-0, R/R) #15 Darin Ruf, So. (6-3, R/R) #16 Brett Mieras, Jr. (6-0, R/R) #26 Joe Bonfe, Fr. (6-4, R/R) #30 Matt Bowers, So. (6-2, R/R) #39 Jimmy Bakers, Sr. (6-2, R/R)
Outfielders	#2 Robbie Knight, RFr. (5-11, R/L) #5 Andrew Small, Sr. (6-2, R/R) #6 Brandon Knox, So. (5-11, R/R) #11 Tyson Parks, So. (6-1, L/L) #16 Brett Mieras, Jr. (6-0, R/R) #18 T.J. Roemmich, Fr. (6-1, L/L) #24 Andy Masten, Sr. (6-1, R/R) #31 Ross Sinclair, Sr. (6-4, R/R)