Game #1 - Gardner-Webb

H R E Gardner-Webb (0-1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 9 1 Creighton (1-0) 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 11 1

WP - Marc Lewis (1-0), LP - Jonathon Ban (0-1), SV - Andy Masten (1) 2B - GW: Miller, Bubbley, Harris. HR - CU: Gradoville (1)

Box Score

Recaps: CU | GWU
Media: OWH

Over the past few years, it has seemed like the first game of the season has been a good barometer of later success in the season for the Jays. The teams that have won early were able to persevere and make the NCAA Regionals. Teams that struggled early had a hard time catching up. Now, I think the story behind that is simple: with the long road swings and the lack of early outdoor practice time, the teams that have had the talent to overcome that early have been the sorts of teams that have been built for the long haul and to contend for postseason play. So, while it's one game out of 50-60 and it's not against what would be considered a powerhouse by any means, it's a very good sign that Coach Servais' squad was able to come out early yesterday, set the tone and hold on for a solid 4-3 win over Gardner-Webb in the first game of the Winthrop Challenge.

Last season, a lot of offensive lulls and slumps the team saw were attributed to a lack of production and tablesetting at the top of the order. Yesterday was a classic example of what getting runners on base can do for you. The freshman Kansas State transfer Robbie Knight was able to reach base safely to lead off the game against Bulldog starter Jonathon Bam and that limited his options when the big thunder in Chris Gradoville came to the plate and the senior co-captain came through, taking the pitch out to left center to give the Jays a 2-0 lead and off they went.

In his first start of the year, Bluejay ace Marc Lewis showed that he was picking up just where he left off in terms of his dominant performance last season. Going 5.1 innings giving up just an infield hit, Marc cut through the Bulldog lineup with relative ease. Gardner-Webb's chance came in the 7th after Pat Venditte came in to relieve Marc with one out in the sixth. In that seventh inning, Venditte gave up two runs on four hits before being relieved by the senior Scott Reese. Reese did give up the third run of the inning after coming in, but was able to regain control and sat down his last four batters.

One of the keys we mentioned in the season preview was who was going to develop as that tandem with Reese at the end of the bullpen. Today, that job went to the Auburn transfer Andy Masten. Masten came in from right field after going 2-4 at the plate to take the mound in the ninth, suffocating any hopes for a comeback with two strikeouts and his first career save.

We saw a lot of good things in this game. The Jays got out early, received solid contributions from a lot of newcomers, especially Knight, Masten and third baseman Steve Winkelmann, who helped fuel the two run second to put the Jays ahead for good. Now, the big test comes with a game this afternoon against the home standing and 25th ranked Winthrop Eagles. This will be an early opportunity for the Jays to make a statement about what this team is truly capable of doing this season.

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)