Creighton Baseball This is Creighton Table of Contents...... 1 Creighton University...... 100-101 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha...... 2-3 Omaha, Neb...... 102 Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center...... 4 Creighton Administration...... 103 2015 Roster ...... 5 Bluejay Academics...... 104 2015 Preview...... 6 Creighton Athletics Staff Directory...... 105 Media Information...... 106 Meet the Coaching Staff Creighton Baseball Radio Broadcasts...... 107 Head Coach Ed Servais...... 8-10 Creighton Traditions...... 108 Ed Servais vs. 2015 Opponents...... 11 Radio/TV Roster...... IBC Assistant Coach Rich Wallace...... 12 2015 Schedule...... IBC Assistant Coach Brian Furlong...... 13 Volunteer Assistant Coach Vicente Cafaro...... 14 Creighton University Information Undergraduate Assistant Coach Eric Wordekemper...... 15 Location...... Omaha, Neb. Director of Operations Adam Barry...... 15 Baseball Support Staff...... 16 Founded...... 1878 Enrollment...... 8,236 School Colors...... Blue and White Meet the 2015 Bluejays Nickname...... Bluejays Max Ising...... 18-19 Affiliation...... NCAA Division I Kevin Lamb...... 20-21 Conference...... BIG EAST Conference Landon Lucansky...... 22-23 Mark Lukowski...... 24-25 Interim President...... J. Christopher Bradberry David Wiedeman...... 26-27 Athletic Director...... Bruce Rasmussen Will Bamesberger...... 28 Athletic Website...... www.gocreighton.com Tommy Clouthier...... 29 Taylor Elman...... 30 Stadium Information Ryan Fitzgerald...... 31 Facility...... TD Ameritrade Park Omaha Reagan Fowler...... 32-33 Capacity...... 24,000 Nick Highberger...... 34 Dimensions...... 335-408-335 (Natural Grass) Joey Mancuso...... 35 Year Opened...... 2011 Brandon Mikulka...... 36 Brett Murray...... 37 Coaching Staff Information John Oltman...... 38 Head Coach...... Ed Servais Tommy Strunc...... 39 Alma Mater...... Wisconsin-La Crosse (1980) Matt Warren...... 40-41 Record at Creighton...... 389-230-1 (11) Jeff Albrecht & David Gerber...... 42 Career Record...... 571-312-2 (20) Nicky Lopez...... 43 Assistant Head Coach...... Rich Wallace (1st season) Sam Norman & Daniel Woodrow...... 44 Assistant Coach...... Brian Furlong (2nd season) Jack Rogalla ...... 45 Volunteer Coach...... Vicente Cafaro (1st season) Harrison Crawford & Matt Gandy...... 46 Undergraduate Assist. Coach...... Eric Wordekemper (2nd season) Connor Miller & Kevin Connolly...... 47 Director of Baseball Operations...... Adam Bary (1st season) Ethan DeCaster & Rollie Lacy...... 48 Baseball Office...... 402-280-2483 Josh Baumgart, Devlin Granberg & Luke Horanski...... 49 Ryan Leuty & Keith Rogalla...... 50 2014 Information 2014 Overall Record...... 32-17-1 2015 Opponents Home Record...... 17-7 2015 Non-Conference Opponents...... 52-54 Away Record...... 11-8-1 2015 BIG EAST Opponents...... 55 Neutral Record...... 4-2 2015 BIG EAST Composite Schedule...... 56-57 2014 BIG EAST Record...... 14-4 The BIG EAST Conference...... 58 Regular Season Finish...... First Home...... 8-1 2014 A Look Back Away...... 6-3 2014 in Pictures...... 60 2014 BIG EAST Tournament Record...... 2-1 2014 Game-by-Game Results...... 61 2014 BIG EAST Tournament Finish...... Second 2014 Overall Stats...... 62 2014 BIG EAST Stats...... 63 Team Information 2014 Specialty Stats...... 64-65 Players Returning/Lost...... 24/11 2014 BIG EAST Standings & Awards...... 66 Newcomers...... 10 Position Starters R/L...... 5/4 Creighton Record Book Pitchers R/L...... 13/5 Career Hitting & Fielding Records...... 68 Season Hitting & Fielding Records...... 69 Program Information Pitching Records...... 70 Number of Years (since 1966)...... 48 Single Game Records...... 71 NCAA Tournament Teams...... 72-77 Overall Record...... 1,461-1,066-9 (.578) Bluejay All-Americans...... 77-81 NCAA Postseason Appearances...... 10 Bluejays in the Pros...... 82-83 Last Appearance...... 2012 Servais’ Bluejays in the Minors...... 84 NCAA CWS Appearances...... 1 Hall of Fame & Academic All-Americans...... 85 Last Appearance...... 1991 Yearly Summary...... 86 Series Records...... 87 Year-By-Year Results...... 88-98

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 1 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

A New Place to Call Home... After more than 20 years of calling the CU Sports Complex home, the Creighton baseball team moved into a new facility in 2011. TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, located just a mile east of the CU Sports Complex, serves as the permanent home of the Creighton baseball team.

The $128 million facility can hold more than 24,000 spectators. TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, which sits just one block northwest of the home of Creighton men’s basketball - CenturyLink Center Omaha - also serves as the home for the Division I NCAA Men’s College World Series, as well as the host of various concerts and other community engagement events.

Designed with the fans in mind, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha has a 360-degee continuous walk- way on the concourse level, with both permanent and portable concession stands lining the concourse. There are 36 inches of leg room between seats, turning the stadium into a bowl while eliminating the stacking effect that “The cool thing about it [the stadium] is that it’s completely happens in many stadiums today. Club seating for 2,500 sacred to college baseball.” - Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin members and access to three, full-service food stations draws many groups and parties to the facility. The entire facility is accessible to people with disabilities and seating inside the stadium meets ADA standards.

Both the media and the athletes who make their way to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha discover it is second to none. The playing surface include a top-of-the-line draining system as well as heating features to ensure play in any type of Nebraska weather. The dirt base paths and grass infield and outfield gives the ball a natural bounce. Full-size dugouts down each line, complete with media pits, allow enough space for athletes and media to work side by side. Tunnels take players to covered batting cages and warm-up tunnels, followed by full locker rooms, complete with coaches suites and training rooms just off the showers that provide the best amenities for all involved.

This and That... “The inside of the stadium is amazing, but I think we all thought it Cost...... $128,000,000 would be that way. You knew it would be and clearly, it is done right.” Architects:...... Kiewit, HDR, Populous, DLR Group - ESPN analyst Kyle Peterson Total seating capacity...... 24,000 Outfield dimensions (in feet)...... LF & RF - 335 ...... LC & RC - 375 ...... CF - 408 Home plate to first row seats...... 52 Feet Average concourse width...... 32 Feet - Infield ...... 30 Feet - Outfield Leg room between rows...... 36 Inches Number of elevators...... 4

A Series of Firsts First game:...... April 19, 2011 ...... Nebraska 2, Creighton 1 Ceremonial first pitch:...... Fred Tomczyk, ...... TD Ameritrade CEO First pitch:...... 6:42 pm by CU’s Ty Blach (4/19/11) First hit:...... NU’s Cody Asche (4/19/11) First double:...... NU’s Tanner Krietemeier (4/19/11) First run:...... Creighton’s Trever Adams (4/19/11) First RBI:...... Creighton’s Mike Gerber (4/19/11) First home run:...... Creighton’s Mike Gerber (4/22/11) First strikeout::... NU’s Bryan Peters by Blach (4/19/11) First double play:.CU (Swift-Staehely-Judkins) (4/19/11) First win:...... NU’s Logan Ehlers (4/19/11) First loss: ...... CU’s Mark Winkelman (4/19/11) First telecast:.... NET Sports/CBS Sports Network (4/19/11) “This [TD Ameritrade Park Omaha] is a tremendous asset First CWS:...... 2011 to Creighton baseball. This is a palace. It’s big time.” First CWS champion:...... South Carolina - John Manuel, Baseball America

2 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

A media interview room as well as a work room under the stadium provides working media a location to quickly generate and send out information through cables and internet functions built into the stadium. A three-tier working press box allows for plenty of seating come tournament time, with additional work cubicles located just behind the main seating. Five individual radio booths as well as the center television bay - complete with fully opening windows - gives all media members access to the angle they wish to cover for the game.

The Bluejays broke in the new facility on April 19, 2011, with a game against in-state rival Nebraska. Although it was a blustery night, more than 22,000 fans braved the weather to come out and get the first views at Omaha’s newest attraction. The Bluejays averaged nearly 7,200 fans for the remainder of the 2011 home schedule, finishing eighth in the NCAA in overall home attendance. The numbers didn’t disappoint once the College World Series came to town, as 321,684 fans came through the turnstiles of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, averaging just under 23,000 fans per session.

Directions to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha From I-80 West: Travel on I-80 West and take exit 1-A and follow I-29 North. Exit off of I-29 onto I-480 West to Omaha. Just across the Missouri River Bridge, exit on the 10th Street/CenturyLink Center Omaha Exit. Turn right onto 10th Street. The stadium will be on your left-hand side.

From I-29 North: Traveling north on Interstate 29, take I-80 West at the convergence of the two inter- states in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Follow the above directions from I-80 West.

From I-80 East: Traveling east on Interstate 80 from Lincoln, take Interstate 480 North to downtown Omaha and follow the above directions.

From Eppley Airfield: When leaving the terminal, turn left (south) on Abbott Drive and follow toward downtown, where Abbott Drive will turn into Cuming Street. Continue on Cuming Street until you reach 13th Street. The ballpark will be on your left-hand side.

“Our players were just in awe seeing it for the first time. The pictures of this place didn’t do it justice. I can’t imagine being a college player and getting to play on this type of stage.” - North Carolina Head Coach Mike Fox

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 3 Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center

The Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center, a 50,000-square-foot build- ing offering a multipurpose field house with synthetic turf for athletic team practices and intramural sports, was officially opened on Oct. 23, 2012. In addition to the indoor practice area, the Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center offers a suspended two-lane running track and a fitness level furnished with cardio, circuit-training and free-weight equipment for all Creighton students, faculty and staff.

Named for Creighton Director of Athletics Bruce Rasmussen, the facility was made possible by generous gifts from Ruth and Bill Scott as well as several other donors. The Scotts have been long-time sup- porters and friends of Creighton University. In 1995 they established a scholarship for international students who enrolled in the School of Medicine. The Nebraska natives have deep roots in the Omaha community and have donated generously to more than 100 different organizations.

Exercise is part of Bill Scott’s daily routine. “Several years ago I was severely injured in a fall. This experience and my subsequent recov- Creighton Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen (middle) with Bill and ery reinforced the importance of health and wellness activities for Ruth Scott at the opening of the Rasmussen Fitness & Sports Center everyone, no matter what your age. This convenient facility will be a visible reminder, for all students, faculty and staff, of the investment Creighton makes in the whole person -- mind, body and spirit. And I can’t think of a finer person than Bruce Rasmussen to honor with this legacy,” said Bill Scott.

Rasmussen has been with Creighton for 35 years, the last 21 years as athletic director. During his tenure, Creighton’s athletic teams have risen to national prominence both on and off the field. Since Rasmussen assumed the role of athletic director, Creighton has won 32 regular-season and 38 conference tournament titles, which have helped lead to 71 postseason appearances.

Creighton’s reputation as one of the nation’s top academic institu- tions is reflected in the success Bluejay student-athletes have had in the classroom during Rasmussen’s service as athletics director. Creighton’s baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s tennis teams all have received national awards for their academic success.

Bluejay student-athletes consistently own collective GPAs of 3.25 or above. Rasmussen was inducted into the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. A member of the College World Series of Omaha, Inc., Executive Committee, Rasmussen played a vital role in seeing that Creighton and the city of Omaha remain as hosts of the College World Series.

4 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 2015 Roster

Numerical # Name Pos. B/T Ht. Wt. Yr.-Exp Hometown (High School/Previous School) Pronunciation 1 Joey Mancuso C L/R 6-0 190 *Jr.-1L Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS/Saint Louis) Allbrecht...... All • Breckt 3 Tommy Clouthier INF R/R 5-10 180 *Jr.-1L Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista HS) Bamesberger...... 4 Nicky Lopez INF L/R 5-10 170 So.-1L Bolingbrook, Ill. (Naperville Central HS) 5 Daniel Woodrow OF L/R 5-10 155 So.-1L Wilmette, Ill. (Loyola Academy) ...... Bombs • Burger 6 Max Ising RHP R/R 5-9 190 *Sr.-1L Lee’s Summit, Mo. Cafaro...... Ca • FAR •O (Lee’s Summit West HS/Neosho County CC) Clouthier.....klow • thee • er 7 Brett Murray OF L/R 6-0 190 Jr.-1L Omaha, Neb. (Westside HS/Hill JC) 8 Brandon Mikulka OF L/L 6-0 190 *Jr.-2L Woodinville, Wash. (Ponderosa HS) Ising...... Ice • ing 10 Tommy Strunc RHP R/R 6-0 195 *Jr.-2L Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista HS) Leuty...... Loot • ee 11 Connor Miller RHP R/R 5-10 190 Jr.-JC Omaha, Neb. (Millard West/Johnson County CC) Lucansky...... Lu •Can • Ski 12 David Wiedeman INF R/R 5-10 160 Sr.-1L. Leawood, Kan. (Rockhurst HS/Navy) Lukowski...... Lu•Cow • Ski 13 Luke Horanski C L/R 5-10 190 Fr.-HS Langley, BC, Canada (Walnut Grove HS) 14 Josh Baumgart RHP L/R 5-10 190 Fr.-HS Sioux Falls, S.D. (Roosevelt HS) Rogalla...... Row • gall • uh 15 John Oltman LHP L/L 6-0 195 *Jr.-2L Cortland, Neb. (Beatrice HS) Servais...... Service 16 Kevin Lamb C R/R 6-0 200 *Sr.-2L Bixby, Okla. (Bixby HS/Eastern Oklahoma CC) Strunc...... Struntz 17 Rollie Lacy RHP R/R 6-3 185 *Fr.-RS Minnetrista, Minn. (Holy Family Catholic HS) Wiedeman...... Wide-a-MAN 18 Taylor Elman RHP R/R 6-3 180 Jr.-2L Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep HS) 20 Harrison Crawford INF R/R 6-2 210 Jr.-JC Oxnard, Calif. (Mater Dei Academy/Ventura JC) Wordekemper...... 21 Kevin Connolly OF R/R 6-1 205 *So.-JC Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep/Notre Dame/Seward CC) ...... Word •eh • Kemper 22 Ryan Fitzgerald INF L/R 5-11 170 Jr.-2L Burr Ridge, Ill. (Fenwick HS) 23 Mark Lukowski RHP R/R 5-11 190 Sr.-3L Papillion, Neb. (Papillion South HS) 24 Will Bamesberger LHP L/L 6-1 165 Jr.-2L Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island HS) Roster Breakdown 26 Landon Lucansky INF R/R 5-10 195 Sr.-2L Leawood, Kan. (Blue Valley HS/Missouri) Location 27 Jack Rogalla RHP R/R 6-1 195 Gr.-Tr. Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest HS/Binghamton) 28 Ethan DeCaster RHP R/R 6-3 170 *Fr.-RS Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View HS) Nebraska...... 10 30 Reagan Fowler INF L/L 6-2 205 *Jr.-2L Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS) Illinois...... 6 31 Nick Highberger RHP R/R 5-10 180 Jr.-2L Rye, Colo. (Rye HS) Colorado...... 4 32 Matt Warren RHP R/R 6-0 190 Jr.-2L Omaha, Neb. (Skutt Catholic HS) Minnesota...... 3 33 Jeff Albrecht LHP L/L 5-10 210 So.-1L Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep HS) 34 Keith Rogalla RHP R/R 6-3 215 Fr.-HS Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest HS) California...... 2 35 Sam Norman LHP R/L 6-4 230 *So.-1L Des Moines, Iowa (Roosevelt HS) Kansas...... 2 36 Matt Gandy C L/R 6-1 215 *Jr.-Tr. Orange County, Calif. (Foothill HS/Chapman) Missouri...... 2 37 Devlin Granberg OF R/R 6-1 195 Fr.-HS Hudson, Colo. (Holy Family HS) 41 Ryan Leuty LHP R/L 6-1 165 Fr.-HS Shoreview, Minn. (Totino-Grace HS) Canada...... 1 42 David Gerber RHP R/R 6-1 175 So.-1L Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley HS) Iowa...... 1 Oklahoma...... 1 Alphabetical South Dakota...... 1 # Name Pos. B/T Ht. Wt. Yr.-Exp Hometown (High School/Previous School) Washington...... 1 33 Jeff Albrecht LHP L/L 5-10 210 So.-1L Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep HS) 24 Will Bamesberger LHP L/L 6-1 165 Jr.-2L Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island HS) 14 Josh Baumgart RHP L/R 5-10 190 Fr.-HS Sioux Falls, S.D. (Roosevelt HS) Class 3 Tommy Clouthier INF R/R 5-10 180 *Jr.-1L Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista HS) Seniors...... 6 21 Kevin Connolly OF R/R 6-1 205 *So.-JC Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep/Notre Dame/Seward CC) Juniors...... 15 20 Harrison Crawford INF R/R 6-2 210 Jr.-JC Oxnard, Calif. (Mater Dei Academy/Ventura JC) 28 Ethan DeCaster RHP R/R 6-3 170 *Fr.-RS Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View HS) Sophomores...... 6 18 Taylor Elman RHP R/R 6-3 180 Jr.-2L Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep HS) Freshmen...... 7 22 Ryan Fitzgerald INF L/R 5-11 170 Jr.-2L Burr Ridge, Ill. (Fenwick HS) 30 Reagan Fowler INF L/L 6-2 205 *Jr.-2L Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS) 36 Matt Gandy C L/R 6-1 215 *Jr.-Tr. Orange County, Calif. (Foothill HS/Chapman) Position 42 David Gerber RHP R/R 6-1 175 So.-1L Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley HS) Right-Handed Pitchers.....13 37 Devlin Granberg OF R/R 6-1 195 Fr.-HS Hudson, Colo. (Holy Family HS) Left-Handed Pitchers...... 5 31 Nick Highberger RHP R/R 5-10 180 Jr.-2L Rye, Colo. (Rye HS) 13 Luke Horanski C L/R 5-10 190 Fr.-HS Langley, BC, Canada (Walnut Grove HS) Catchers...... 4 6 Max Ising RHP R/R 5-9 190 *Sr.-1L Lee’s Summit, Mo. Infielders...... 7 (Lee’s Summit West HS/Neosho County CC) Outfielders...... 5 17 Rollie Lacy RHP R/R 6-3 185 *Fr.-RS Minnetrista, Minn. (Holy Family Catholic HS) 16 Kevin Lamb C R/R 6-0 200 *Sr.-2L Bixby, Okla. (Bixby HS/Eastern Oklahoma CC) 41 Ryan Leuty LHP R/L 6-1 165 Fr.-HS Shoreview, Minn. (Totino-Grace HS) Last School 4 Nicky Lopez INF L/R 5-10 170 So.-1L Bolingbrook, Ill. (Naperville Central HS) 26 Landon Lucansky INF R/R 5-10 195 Sr.-2L Leawood, Kan. (Blue Valley HS/Missouri) High School...... 23 23 Mark Lukowski RHP R/R 5-11 190 Sr.-3L Papillion, Neb. (Papillion South HS) JC Transfer...... 6 1 Joey Mancuso C L/R 6-0 190 *Jr.-1L Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst HS/Saint Louis) 4-Year Transfer...... 5 8 Brandon Mikulka OF L/L 6-0 190 *Jr.-2L Woodinville, Wash. (Ponderosa HS) 11 Connor Miller RHP R/R 5-10 190 Jr.-JC Omaha, Neb. (Millard West/Johnson County CC) 7 Brett Murray OF L/R 6-0 190 Jr.-1L Omaha, Neb. (Westside HS/Hill JC) Letterwinners 35 Sam Norman LHP R/L 6-4 230 *So.-1L Des Moines, Iowa (Roosevelt HS) Returners...... 24 15 John Oltman LHP L/L 6-0 195 *Jr.-2L Cortland, Neb. (Beatrice HS) Newcomers...... 10 27 Jack Rogalla RHP R/R 6-1 195 Gr.-Tr. Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest HS/Binghamton) 34 Keith Rogalla RHP R/R 6-3 215 Fr.-HS Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest HS) 10 Tommy Strunc RHP R/R 6-0 195 *Jr.-2L Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista HS) Pitchers 32 Matt Warren RHP R/R 6-0 190 Jr.-2L Omaha, Neb. (Skutt Catholic HS) 12 David Wiedeman INF R/R 5-10 160 Sr.-1L. Leawood, Kan. (Rockhurst HS/Navy) Returners...... 13 5 Daniel Woodrow OF L/R 5-10 155 So.-1L Wilmette, Ill. (Loyola Academy) Newcomers...... 5 * = Used Redshirt

Coaching Staff Coaching Staff Head Coach 9 Ed Servais Volunteer Assistant Coach 19 Vicente Cafaro Assistant Coach 39 Rich Wallace Undergraduate Assistant Coach 40 Eric Wordekemper Assistant Coach 29 Brian Furlong Director of Baseball Operations Adam Barry

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 5 2015 Preview

The 2014 season began with head coach Starting Rotation as good as any defensive first baseman Ed Servais and the Creighton baseball In addition to Warren, Creighton returns we’ve had in the program,” said Servais. team looking to find the championship junior Taylor Elman and sophomore Jeff recipe. Things appeared to be in order Albrecht from its 2014 rotation. Elman The middle of the defense will see Nicky as in their first season as a member of and Albrecht combined for 26 starts last Lopez move from third base to shortstop the BIG EAST Conference, the Bluejays season and 106 innings. Pushing those and Ryan Fitzgerald will move from became the school’s first squad to claim a three will be junior Tommy Strunc, a short to second base. regular-season BIG EAST Championship 2013 Freshman All-American, redshirt with a 14-4 league record. freshman Rollie Lacy, graduate transfer At third base the spring will open with a Jack Rogalla as well as touted freshman competition as both Tommy Clouthier Earning the top seed in the BIG EAST Keith Rogalla. and Harrison Crawford will be given Tournament, Creighton won the first two the opportunity to win the job. contests to advance to a winner-take-all Keith Rogalla spurned the Philadelphia championship game. Phillies, who drafted him in the 37th Outfield round of the Major League Baseball draft The area that will see the largest turn- Facing Xavier, a team the Bluejays de- last summer, to come to Creighton. Lacy over in 2015 is in the outfield. Gone feated in the opening round, Creighton was extremely effective both in the sum- are Mike Gerber and Brad McKewon, a came up just short. That loss provides mer as well as the fall, earning an all-star tandem that combined to start 99 games the fuel for Creighton’s 2015 season as the selection over the summer. Jack Rogalla last season. Bluejays look to return to the NCAA Tour- was the ace of a Binghamton staff that nament for the first time since 2012. reached the NCAA Tournament in both “Everyone knows how good Gerber was 2013 and 2014. but we forget how good McKewon was Anchoring both the offense as well as in left field. He took away a lot of hits, the pitching staff for Creighton are 2014 “We have more depth in our rotation than especially at TD Ameritrade,” said Ser- All-American’s juniors Reagan Fowler any team I’ve coached and I like what I vais. (first baseman) and Matt Warren (start- see so far,” said Servais. “We’ve never had ing pitcher). seven starters that can all contribute, now The Bluejays expect to turn center field if a player needs some additional rest we’ll over to sophomore Daniel Woodrow, In addition to earning All-America rec- be able to do that.” while returner Brett Murray is expected ognition last season, Fowler was the BIG to move from right to left field. EAST Co-Player of the Year. He closed Bullpen the 2014 season with a team-best .362 A long-time strength of Servais’ teams, Right field could be a rotation of sopho- average, 67 hits and a .464 on-base per- the Bluejays must replace the nine saves more transfer Kevin Connolly, junior centage. and 2.09 ERA of closer Bryan Sova. Brandon Mikulka and freshman Devlin Granberg. Warren, meanwhile, wrapped up a break- “Replacing Sova is about more than the out year that saw him gravitate from a way he pitched. He was a great competi- “We will probably not settle on three midweek starter to the staff ace. Warren tor and mentor to the entire staff,” noted outfielders as we have in years past,” not- closed 2014 with a 2.03 ERA and a 10-1 Servais. “I’m hopeful that some of the re- ed Servais.” record. turning staff will pick up that competitive spirit.” In addition the Bluejays may move The key to the Bluejays’ 2015 season will infielders David Wiedeman or Landon not only hinge on Fowler and Warren con- Servais, however, believes the bullpen will Lucansky into the outfield rotation in an tinuing to deliver, but the contributions of continue to be a strength for his squad. effort to get another right-handed bat in the rest of the Bluejays. the lineup. Senior Max Ising will open the season as the closer, while re- Catcher turners Mark Lukowski, Nick The catching position is another area of Highberger and John Oltman wealth. Senior Kevin Lamb seems to be will be asked to continue the work ready to return to the starting role after the trio did last season. Highberg- seeing his 2014 cut short by a leg injury. er and Oltman tied for the team Lamb, however, will have competition lead with 31 appearances in 2014, from junior Joey Mancuso as well as while Lukowski saw time in 27 newcomers Luke Horanski and junior contest. In addition the Bluejays Matt Gandy. expect sophomores Sam Nor- man, David Gerber as well as Lamb had a strong sophomore season junior college transfer Connor at the plate, but tapered off in 2014. Miller to have an increasing role. Mancuso offers a left-handed option at the plate that hit .254 in 71 at-bats last year. Infield Fowler’s offensive contributions The duo will have to fend off Horanski, were easy to recognize, but Ser- who played for the Canadian National vais believes his defense may have Team in the fall, as well as Gandy. been just as valuable. “As we found out last year, catching can “We’ve become known for having take a significant toll on the body,” said outstanding defensive first base- Servais. “That makes our depth at the po- men and [Fowler’s] play speaks sition such an asset. We’ll mix things up for itself. I believe he is every bit and also get some at-bats for guys at DH.”

6 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide Meet the Coaching Staff

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 7 Head Coach Ed Servais 9 • Ed Servais Head Coach • Wisconsin-La Crosse (1980) 389-230-1 (.628) • Creighton (11 Seasons) 571-312-2 (.646) • Overall (20 Seasons)

Ed Servais returns for his 12th season at the first base coach. Servais helped Team USA helm of the Creighton baseball program. post a 7-3 record against Japan and Cuba, including a five-game sweep of the Cuban He is the winningest coach in program National Team. history, passing Jim Hendry (289) in 2011. Servais’ tenure as Creighton head coach The Bluejays topped the 30-win mark for the ranks among the best in the NCAA. He has eighth time under Servais in 2013, finishing Servais’ Résumé guided the team to a 389-230-1 record. with a 30-18 mark, Creighton’s final year in • Head Coach, Creighton the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). (2004-present) His overall record of 571-312-2 places him Overall record: 389-230-1 24th in the nation in winning percentage Despite finishing 2012 with a 28-30 overall amongst active coaches (.646). record and a 6-14 mark in MVC play, Servais • Assistant Coach, Creighton led his team to the NCAA Tournament with (1998-2003) Servais has taken Creighton to four NCAA an inspired four-game sweep at the MVC Tournaments (2005, 2007, 2011 & 2012). In Tournament. • Assistant Coach, Iowa State 11 seasons under Servais’ leadership, Creigh- (1996-97) ton has averaged just over 35 wins per season. The Bluejays opened the MVC Tournament with an upset win over top-seed Indiana • Head Coach, St. Mary’s (Minn.) Last season, Servais guided the Bluejays State and went on to defeat Illinois State (1989-95) to the BIG EAST regular season champion- twice to advance to the title game. Creighton Overall record: 159-76-1 ship, the first BIG EAST title for any sport at completed the four-game run by besting the Creighton. The Bluejays closed 2014 with a Southern Illinois, 8-6, to earn the MVC’s au- • Head Coach, Viterbo (Wis.) tomatic berth. (1987-88) 32-17-1 record and a 14-4 mark in their first Overall record: 23-6 season as a member of the BIG EAST. At the Los Angeles Regional, the Bluejays • Assistant Coach, St. Mary’s In the conference tournament, Creighton won dropped their opener to the host UCLA (3-0), (1984-86) its first two games to advance to the champi- but rebounded to eliminate San Diego (8-2) onship game, but the Bluejays ultimately fell and New Mexico (7-2), before falling to the Postseason Appearances in a winner-take-all game to Xavier. Bruins (13-5). • 2012 NCAA Regional Participant MVC Tournament Champions In typical Servais fashion, he instilled his Creighton moved into TD Ameritrade Park • 2011 NCAA Regional Participant trademarks of defense and fundamental into Omaha midway through the 2011 season, MVC Tournament Champions the 2014 team. Creighton closed the season leaving behind the friendly confines of the MVC Regular Season Champions as the NCAA statistical champion in fielding CU Sports Complex where Servais had a .770 • 2007 NCAA Regional Participant percentage, committing just 32 errors and fin- winning percentage. MVC Tournament Champions ishing with a .984 fielding percentage. • 2005 NCAA Regional Participant MVC Regular Season Champions In addition, Servais picked up the 2014 BIG EAST Coach of the Year nod. It was his fifth Coaching Accolades honor at the Division I level and seventh over- • 2014 BIG EAST Coach of the Year all. Individually Reagan Fowler was named • 2013 USA Baseball Assistant Coach BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year. Fowler and • 2011 MVC Coach of the Year Matt Warren were also named to the Louis- • 2008 FieldTurf National ville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball All-America Coach of the Year teams. • 2007 MVC Coach of the Year • 2005 MVC Coach of the Year • 2004 MVC Coach of the Year In addition to sitting atop the NCAA in field- • 1993 MIAC Coach of the Year ing percentage, the Bluejays finished 43rd in • 1993 Midwest Regional Runner-Up sacrifice bunts (59). • 1990 MIAC Coach of the Year Servais’ teams have consistently finished Collegiate Career among the nation’s best in fielding percent- • Wisconsin-La Crosse age. Since 2004, the beginning of the Servais (1977-1980) era, Creighton teams have committed the fewest errors in the nation (537), while also leading the country with a .977 fielding percentage.

During the summer of 2013, Servais served as one of three assistants for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Servais was responsible for team defense and was the

8 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide Head Coach Ed Servais

The new venue, gave Creighton the chance to host the MVC The end of the 2010 season saw four Bluejays honored by the Tournament for the first time in Servais’ tenure. MVC and one Bluejay pitcher earning national honors. Elliot Soto and Carson Vitale were drafted, with Soto being taken by The 2011 team finished with a 45-16 overall the Chicago Cubs in the 15th round and Vitale by the Texas record, finishing first in MVC play with a 15-6 mark. It marked Rangers organization in the 38th round. the first time in school history a Bluejay baseball team won the regular-season and tournament titles in the same year. The In 2009, the Bluejays (31-25) came within one win of their third Bluejays finished the season ranked 25th in the nation, breaking NCAA Tournament in five years, as they reached the MVC into the top-25 for the first time since 2007. Tournament championship game before falling to Wichita State, 4-2. Defense set the tone for the squad as it finished with a .984 Servais was named the 2011 MVC Coach of the Year, as he fielding percentage, tops in the in NCAA. guided the Bluejays to series sweeps of Indiana State, Bradley and Missouri State. The three wins over the Bears to close the reg- Servais coached seven All-MVC selections in 2009, the most ular season gave Creighton the MVC regular-season crown out- since taking the reins in 2004. He also saw first baseman Darin right. Ruf come just 38 putouts shy of an NCAA record, finishing with 2,251 during his four years. The Bluejays then overcame fatigue and weather conditions in the MVC Tournament (including playing four games in two The Creighton skipper guided the 2008 team to another strong days) to position themselves for a chance at the tournament ti- season. The Bluejays, who were 37-21 overall, posted a .976 field- tle. Creighton defeated Missouri State for the fifth time in eight ing percentage, good for third in the nation, after committing days, needing a wild pitch in the 12th inning to get a 4-3 victory. only 52 errors in 58 games. Creighton was also near the top of The Bluejays then downed Wichita State 3-1 in the title game to the nation in sacrifice bunts as well as shutouts. Individually the earn the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Creighton Bluejays featured four All-MVC picks in 2008, as Pat Venditte, ended its season with a 1-2 showing in the Corvallis, Oregon, Robbie Knight, Steve Winkelmann and Ruf all earned accolades. Regional. In 2007, Servais led Creighton to 45 wins and the first MVC The Bluejays earned a host of postseason accolades, led by Servais’ Tournament Championship in school history. Servais was named MVC Coach of the Year. Trever Adams became the first Bluejay the MVC Coach of the Year for the third time as the Bluejays outfielder since 2000 to be named First Team All-MVC. advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three Adams was joined by Jimmy Swift and Jonas Dufek on years. Creighton won 26 of its final 31 games, including a mem- the 2011 All-MVC First Team. Mike Gerber, Ty Blach orable 10-9, 12-inning victory over 12th-ranked Wichita State in and Kurt Spomer were recognized as second team- the finals of the MVC Tournament. The 2007 season saw 12 school ers. Dufek garnered All-America honors from Collegiate records broken and the Bluejays’ second regular-season series Baseball, while Adams was named All-America by Collegiate victory over in-state rival Nebraska under Servais’ guidance. Baseball, Baseball America and the NCBWA. Gerber finished as a freshman All-American from Collegiate Baseball, while Blach Individual accolades came in bunches as Ruf was named the Joe became the seventh player in program history to be named a Carter MVC Player of the Year, junior southpaw Ben Mancuso CoSIDA Academic All-American. was the MVC Pitcher of the Year, and senior Andy Masten was the league’s Newcomer of the Year. Mancuso, Masten and Ven- Creighton finished the 2010 season 27-25 . Creighton excelled on ditte were selected to All-America teams, while freshman hurler the defensive side, finishing second in the nation in fielding per- Casey Schmidt earned Freshman All-America honors. centage at .980. The Bluejays closed the year second in Division I, committing just 41 errors in 52 games. The 2006 team posted a record of 31-21 overall and placed fourth in the MVC with a 13-11 mark. Servais guided Creighton to its third-consecutive 30-win season, becoming the third coach in school history to win 30 games in each of his first three seasons.

In 2005, Servais coached the Bluejays to a 48-17 record and the school’s first-ever MVC regular-season championship. It was also the team’s first NCAA postseason appearance since 2000. The squad’s 48 wins were the second-most in program history, behind only the 51 games won by the 1991 College World Series team. Servais also brought home his second MVC Coach of the Year award in as many seasons.

Creighton ended the 2005 campaign nationally ranked for the first time since 2000, a No. 28 ranking fromCollegiate Baseball. Servais also led the Bluejays to a 5-3 regular-season win over No. 3 Nebraska in front of more than 20,000 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium. Creighton led the nation in double plays turned with 85 and set a team record for assists with 803.

In 2004, Servais was honored as the MVC Coach of the Year, the first time in league history it was awarded to a first-year coach. Creighton’s 15-win improvement from its 2003 record was the fifth-best turnaround in the NCAA that year and the largest in the MVC since 1991. Servais led the Bluejays to 35 wins, including a school-record 22 MVC victories.

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 9 Head Coach Ed Servais

Allen were each named Honorable Mention All-MVC, making for a combination that turned 54 double plays, which ranked among NCAA leaders. Catcher Tim Gradoville was also named honorable mention All-MVC in 2002.

Before to coming to Creighton, Servais spent two years as an assistant coach at Iowa State University. During his time at ISU, he served as recruiting coordinator, hitting instructor, infield and outfield coach. He helped lead the Cyclones to a second-place finish at the final Big Eight Conference tournament in 1996.

Before his time at Iowa State, Servais was the head coach at St. Mary’s (Minn.) for seven years from 1989-1995. While at St. Mary’s, he compiled a record of 159-76-1 at the NCAA Di- vision III school. He was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Coach of the Year in both 1990 and 1993 after leading St. Mary’s to MIAC championships in both years. His 1990 pitching staff led Division III schools with a 2.34 earned run average. Between the years of 1991 and 1992, his teams went on a 26-game winning streak.

His 1993 team at St. Mary’s came just short of making the Division III World Series, falling in the final of the Division III Midwest Regional. That team was ranked as high as No. 10 in the country. In his seven years as head coach, St. Mary’s had six players drafted by major league teams.

Servais’ first collegiate head coaching position came at Viterbo “During Ed’s tenure at Creighton, he has established our College in La Crosse, Wis., in 1988 when he coached the NAIA baseball program as one of the most fundamentally sound, Division II V-Hawks in the first year of baseball at the school. over-achieving programs in the country,” said Creighton Direc- He made his only season there one to remember as Servais tor of Athletics Bruce Rasmussen. “Ed is a great teacher of the led the V-Hawks to a 23-6 overall record and an 11-1 confer- game of baseball and his program has done a tremendous job of ence mark. Making that record even more impressive is that of representing themselves and Creighton University.” the 17 players on the team, 14 were freshmen. One of those freshmen he coached was Damian Miller, who went on to Known as a coach who emphasizes the importance of team de- the major leagues and was a member of the world champion fense, his first season didn’t disappoint. Creighton’s .982 field- Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. ing percentage in 2004 led the country and was the second-best mark in NCAA history at the time. Servais’ first college coaching job came at St. Mary’s in 1984 as an assistant. He stayed there for three seasons, after which he Servais was named head coach on July 29, 2003 after serving left to start the baseball program at Viterbo. as the program’s interim head coach for the previous month. He came to Creighton on Aug. 25, 1997, when Jack Dahm named He got his start in coaching at Rib Lake High School in Rib him an assistant on his staff. As an assistant, Servais was on Lake, Wis. He coached for two years at Rib Lake and rang up a the bench for 174 Creighton wins, including a pair of NCAA two-year record of 24-11 from 1982-1983. He led Rib Lake to the Regional berths in 1999 and 2000. He was also on staff when district finals in both of his years. Dahm was named MVC Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2002. With the help of Servais’ instruction, the 2002 edition of the Servais graduated from Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1980 with a Bluejays finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference. degree in physical education. As a player, Servais was a three- time all-conference selection, the team’s co-captain and Most Servais served as Creighton’s hitting and first base coach, as Valuable Player his senior year. He holds a master’s degree in well as the defensive infield coach. He also served as Dahm’s physical education from Wisconsin-La Crosse, which he earned recruiting coordinator. He made an immediate impact on the in 1986 while coaching at St. Mary’s. program in his first year, as the Bluejays ranked among the nation’s top defensive teams with a .965 fielding percentage in Servais resides in Omaha with his wife Anne. The couple has three 1998. The team’s offensive numbers also increased significantly adult children: daughter Angela as well sons Joe and Michael. as the team batting average went up 29 points to .313. The run production also increased from 6.9 to 7.5 runs per game. Angela graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, in 2006 and went on to complete her master’s degree at Drake. An- His most talented team as an assistant was in 1999. That Blue- gela and her husband Zach Gradnon, recently welcomed Ed’s jay squad hit .326 and averaged nearly eight runs per game. first grandchild, Gwen. Ryan Gripp was named a First Team ABCA All-American following that season and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the Joe transferred to Creighton from the University of Kansas in third round of the MLB amateur draft. Lawrence, Kan., and played for the Bluejays in 2008, finishing with a .298 average in 54 games. Michael played second base As part of his job as infield coach, Servais helped make Tony and graduated from Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. Roth into an honorable mention All-MVC player. Roth was named conference Freshman of the Year in 2002 and was also Ed is also the uncle of former Creighton All-American and major a freshman All-American selection by Collegiate Baseball. That league catcher Scott Servais, who now is the Assistant GM of the same year, second baseman Chris Hinrichs and shortstop Scott Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

10 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide Head Coach Ed Servais

Servais’ Career Coaching Record Servais vs. 2015 Opponents Air Force (5-3) 4/5/11 L 5-8 YEAR SCHOOL RECORD 2/15/04 W 13-8 4/19/11 L 1-2 1984 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Assistant Coach 20-16 2/18/06 W 9-2 5/10/11 W 9-8 1985 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Assistant Coach 20-18 4/15/09 W 6-5 (7) 4/10/12 L 3-5 1986 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Assistant Coach 14-24 4/15/09 W 6-0 (7) 4/24/12 L 1-4 4/27/04 L 3-4 (7) 5/8/12 W 8-1 1987 Viterbo, Head Coach Program Not Yet Started 4/27/04 L 2-6 (7) 4/26/13 W 5-3 1988 Viterbo, Head Coach 23-6 3/16/04 L 1-2 5/14/13 L 9-12 1989 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Head Coach 13-22-1 3/16/04 W 11-9 3/19/14 L 4-5 (10) 4/8/14 L 2-4 1990 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Head Coach 28-8 * Arkansas (0-1) 1991 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Head Coach 20-10 6/3/07 L 0-6 Nevada (0-0) 1992 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Head Coach 28-7 First Meeting in 2015 1993 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Head Coach 26-7 * Arkansas State (5-2) 2/23/07 W 6-3 Northwestern State (0-1) 1994 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Head Coach 20-11 3/6/11 W 5-2 2/27/10 L 7-8 1995 St. Mary’s (Minn.), Head Coach 24-11 3/6/11 W 6-0 1996 Iowa State, Assistant Coach 23-31 3/7/11 L 6-8 Omaha (3-3) 3/8/14 W 7-3 3/27/12 L 2-3 1997 Iowa State, Assistant Coach 21-31 3/9/14 W 5-4 5/9/12 W 6-1 1998 Creighton, Assistant Coach 27-27-1 3/10/14 L 2-6 3/29/13 W 4-3 1999 Creighton, Assistant Coach 38-25 ! 3/30/13 W 11-4 2000 Creighton, Assistant Coach 38-23 ! Butler (3-0) 3/31/13 L 2-4 4/25/14 W 8-1 4/22/14 L 1-4 2001 Creighton, Assistant Coach 21-31 4/26/14 W 2-1 2002 Creighton, Assistant Coach 30-24 4/26/14 W 4-2 Seton Hall (3-1) 2003 Creighton, Assistant Coach 20-37 5/2/14 L 2-8 CSU Bakersfield (0-0) 5/3/14 W 4-3 (10) 2004 Creighton, Head Coach 35-24 @ First Meeting in 2015 5/4/14 W 8-7 (10) 2005 Creighton, Head Coach 48-17 !@ 5/23/14 W 2-1 2006 Creighton, Head Coach 31-21 Georgetown (3-0) 2007 Creighton, Head Coach 45-16 !@ 4/11/14 W 2-0 South Dakota State (13-4) 4/12/14 W 13-4 3/15/05 W 13-0 2008 Creighton, Head Coach 37-21 # 4/12/14 W 16-5 3/15/05 W 3-2 2009 Creighton, Head Coach 31-25 4/26/05 W 13-1 2010 Creighton, Head Coach 27-25 Kansas State (8-6) 3/13/07 L 4-13 4/27/04 W 4-1 3/25/08 W 9-8 2011 Creighton, Head Coach 45-16 !@ 3/1/05 W 8-3 3/14/09 W 8-2 2012 Creighton, Head Coach 28-30 ! 4/11/06 L 4-5 3/15/09 L 2-4 2013 Creighton, Head Coach 30-18 4/11/07 W 3-1 3/15/09 L 3-12 2014 Creighton, Head Coach 32-17-1 ^ 3/26/08 L 1-11 4/28/09 W 5-2 4/15/08 W 6-5 3/12/10 W 3-2 3/3/09 L 1-12 3/11/11 W 6-0 11-Year Creighton Totals 389-230-1 4/1/09 W 5-1 3/12/11 W 6-3 20-Year Head Coaching Totals 571-312-2 3/16/10 W 7-4 3/13/11 W 13-0 4/12/11 W 7-6 4/13/12 L 2-5 4/30/13 L 3-6 4/15/12 W 6-5 ! NCAA Regional 3/28/14 W 4-3 3/14/14 W 5-4 (10) ^ BIG EAST Coach of the Year 3/29/14 L 5-8 3/15/14 W 3-1 * MIAC Coach of the Year 3/30/14 L 2-8 St. John’s (2-1) @ MVC Coach of the Year Minnesota (3-1) 5/9/14 L 5-6 # FieldTurf National Coach of the Year 3/13/10 W 6-4 5/11/14 W 13-11 2/21/14 L 5-10 5/11/14 W 15-5 2/22/14 W 11-4 2/23/14 W 8-0 Stetson (0-0) First Meeting in 2015 Nebraska (11-21) 3/23/04 L 3-7 Stony Brook (0-1) 4/20/04 W 6-4 3/6/09 L 2-8 5/18/04 L 1-12 3/29/05 L 2-10 Tulane (0-0) 4/5/05 W 4-3 First Meeting in 2015 5/10/05 W 5-3 6/4/05 L 8-10 Utah Valley (0-0) 6/5/05 L 2-10 First Meeting in 2015 4/4/06 L 4-6 4/18/06 L 2-4 Villanova (2-1) 5/16/06 L 1-4 4/17/14 L 3-6 4/17/07 W 2-1 4/18/14 W 12-6 5/15/07 W 9-2 4/19/14 W 4-0 4/3/07 L 10-12 5/13/08 L 1-8 Xavier (3-2) 4/22/08 L 3-4 5/15/14 L 4-9 4/23/08 L 7-16 5/16/14 W 7-2 4/7/09 W 15-0 5/17/14 W 7-6 (12) 4/21/09 L 3-4 5/22/14 W 9-2 4/6/10 W 13-5 5/25/14 L 0-5 4/20/10 W 8-5 5/18/10 L 5-21

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 11 Assistant Coach Rich Wallace 39 • Rich Wallace

Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Central Florida (2004) • First Season at Creighton

Wallace comes to Creighton from High Point University, where he served as an assistant coach from 2009-14. Wallace Résumé • Assistant Coach, Creighton (2014-present) Wallace was the Panthers’ recruiting coordinator from - Recruiting Coordinator 2012-14. His efforts to bring in a stellar recruiting class - Hitting Coach in 2012 was named one of the nation’s best by Collegiate - Catching Coach Baseball. In addition to his role as the recruiting coordinator for High Point, Wallace was also the Panthers’ hitting coach and catching instructor. Wallace is expected to step into each of • Assistant Coach, those three roles for the Bluejays. High Point (2009-14) - Recruiting Coordinator - Catching Coach “I’m extremely excited to join the Creighton program. There is tremendous history here and - Hitting Coach I am ready to get to work,” said Wallace. “My wife is from Omaha and being a Midwest man myself, the chance to bring my family home is also wonderful.” • Volunteer Assistant Coach, Central Florida (2005-08) Prior to High Point Wallace served as volunteer assistant coach at Central Florida from 2005-08, where he played from 2000-04. As a player for the Knights, Wallace was part of three Collegiate Career NCAA Tournament teams. Wallace’s teams won three Atlantic Sun regular season champion- • Central Florida (2000-2004) ships and a pair of Atlantic Sun tournament titles.

During his playing career at Central Florida, Wallace garnered Third Team All-Atlantic Sun honors as a freshman and was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He set the school’s record for being hit by a pitch, both in career and single season totals. A native of Orlando, Fla., Wallace earned his bachelor’s degree from UCF in liberal studies in 2004.

Wallace and his wife Alex have two daughters, Maxx and Easton.

Servais on Wallace: “I was looking for someone that could work with our offense, had a strong recruiting knowledge, and in a perfect world could work with our catchers,” said Servais. “Rich brings each of those qualities to the table. He had two top-40 recruiting classes at High Point and has a history of improving catchers.”

12 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide Assistant Coach Brian Furlong 29 • Brian Furlong

Assistant Coach Iowa (2005) • Second Season at Creighton

After spending a season as the director of baseball operations for Creighton in 2014, Furlong was promoted Furlong Résumé • Assistant Coach, to an assistant coach over the summer. Creighton (2014-present) - Pitching Coach Before coming to Creighton, Furlong served as the director of baseball operations at the University of Iowa • Director of Baseball Operations in 2012. Creighton (2013-14)

Furlong played at Iowa State in 2001, Creighton in 2003 and completed his playing days at • Director of Baseball Operations Iowa in 2004-05. Iowa (2012-13) Collegiate Career Recognized academically in all three conferences, Furlong was a Big 12 Scholar Athlete (2001), • Iowa (2004-05) a Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete (2003) and an Academic All-Big Ten honoree Academic All-Big Ten (2005) (2005) with the Hawkeyes. • Creighton (2003) Furlong graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in political science in Missouri Valley Conference 2005. Scholar Athlete • Triton College (2002) As a prep at Iowa City High, Furlong was an elite All-State selection as a senior. He was also a two-time All-State, all-district and all-conference selection. As a senior, he went 7-1 on the • Iowa State (2001) mound with a school record 0.37 ERA in guiding the Little Hawks to a 31-10 record. Big 12 Scholar-Athlete

Servais on Furlong: “I was impressed with what Brian did for our program last year as the director of baseball operations. He is hard working and has familiarity with our program both as a player and as a member of the staff. I liked some of his ideas on developing a long-throwing program. We are very pleased with his impact on the program already.”

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 13 Volunteer Assistant Coach Vicente Cafaro 19 • Vicente Cafaro

Volunteer Assistant Coach Creighton (2009) • First Season at Creighton

A former Bluejay himself (2008-09), Cafaro returns to Creighton after serving as the graduate assistant coach Cafaro Résumé • Volunteer Assistant Coach, at the University of Southern Indiana last season. Creighton (2014-present)

Working with the infielders and coaching third base, Ca- • Graduate Assistant Coach, faro helped guide the Screaming Eagles to the NCAA Di- University of Southern vision II national championship in 2014. Indiana (2014)

Before coming to Southern Indiana, Cafaro spent a season as an assistant coach for the Collegiate Career Hickory Crawdads, a Class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers organization. He also signed a • Creighton (2008-09) - Rawlings Gold Glove minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers organization in 2009, playing one year with the Arizona Rangers, Texas’ rookie league squad. • Iowa Western CC (2007) - NJCAA Gold Glove “I’m very excited to come back to Creighton. I have experience with coach Servais’ system and I hope to help this team return to the NCAA Tournament,” said Cafaro. • Wayne State (2006)

During his two seasons at Creighton, Cafaro started 111 of 113 games, hitting .318 with 66 RBIs, 29 doubles, four triples, and 10 home runs. The native of Maracay, Venezuela, earned a Rawlings Gold Glove as the nation’s top defensive second baseman in 2009.

In addition to his two seasons at Creighton, Cafaro also played college baseball for one season at Iowa Western Community College (2007) and Wayne State College (2006). He batted .441 and won an NJCAA Gold Glove during his season at IWCC, leading the Reivers to the NJCAA World Series. Cafaro earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Creighton in 2009.

Cafaro resides in Omaha, along with his wife Jacqueline and daughter Eva Sofia.

Servais on Cafaro: “Cafaro is a high energy guy that has a great feel for infield play,” said Servais. “Having been such a successful infielder here at Creighton, he can continue the system we have in place and free me up to spend more time with our pitchers.”

14 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide Eric Wordekemper & Adam Barry 40 • Eric Wordekemper

Undergraduate Assistant Coach Second Season at Creighton

Entering his second season as an undergraduate assistant coach, Wordekemper expects to complete his Wordekemper’s Résumé • Undergraduate Assistant Coach, degree in leadership studies this spring. A nine-year Creighton (2014-present) veteran in pro ball, Wordekemper intends to return to Bullpen Coach the professional ranks this season as he nears comple- tion of his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Professional Career • Camden - Independent During his three seasons as a Bluejay (2003-05), Wordkemper posted a combined 14-8 Atlantic League (2013) record over 173.1 innings. His best season came in 2005 as he delivered a flawless 6-0 record in 43.1 innings. That season Wordekemper started 10 games, allowing just five walks and • 7-Eleven Lions - Chinese Professional League (2012) recording 36 strikeouts. • Tabasco - Mexican League (2012) Eric was drafted by the New York Yankees following the 2005 season, pitching at the A, AA & AAA levels for the Bronx Bombers. Wordekemper pitched at the AAA level for the • New York Yankees (2005-11) Yankees in 2006 (Columbus) as well as 2009-11 (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre). Drafted in 46th Round in 2005 Pitched at the A, AA & AAA Over his nine-year professional career, Eric amassed a combined 22-13 record, tossing 418.1 levels for the New York Yankees in 276 appearances (264 out of the bullpen). Wordekemper has a combined 2.73 ERA, Collegiate Career recording 331 strikouts and allowing just 140 walks. • Creighton (2003-05) Combined 14-8 record Servais on Wordekemper: Perfect 6-0 mark in 2005 “Eric brings a lot of experience, traveling throughout the country as well as abroad as a Tossed 173.1 innings as a Bluejay player. He has a presence about him and carries high expectations. I think Eric will have an even more significant impact with our pitchers this season.”

Adam Barry

Director of Baseball Operations Cal State Northridge (2012) • First Season at Creighton

Barry began his first baseball staff role as the Barry’s Résumé Bluejays’ director of baseball operations in the fall of • Director of Baseball Operations Creighton (2014-present) 2014

Professional Career Barry played professionally in the Pecos Leauge • Pecos League (2014) during the spring of 2014, earning the league MVP Trinidad Triggers with a .533 average and a 3-0 mark on the mound. Galveston Sea Lions Fort Worth Cats He closed out his collegiate career playing for current assistant coach, Rich Wallace, as a graduate student at High Point in 2013. Barry appeared in 50 games as a member of the Collegiate Career • High Point (2013) Panthers, posting a .291 average. Before coming to High Point, he spent two seasons at Cal Grad Student State Northridge. With the Matadors, Barry hit .287 in 95 games.

• Cal State Northridge (2011-12) Barry earned his undergraduate degree in sociology from Cal State Northridge in 2012 as well as his master’s in non-profit management from High Point in 2013. • Ventura College (2010) Servais on Barry: • Wyoming (2008-09) “Adam is a high energy guy who is willing to do whatever he can to help the program. This Played football for two seasons. season we’ll ask him to handle administrative roles like helping with equipment, apparel and program setup. I know Adam is anxious to get on the field in the future and we will help get him ready for that next step.”

2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide 15 Athletic Trainer Curtis Self & Strength Coach Brad Schmidt Curtis Self

Athletic Trainer Coe College (2000) • Eighth Season at Creighton

Curtis Self is in his eighth year with Creighton, serving as the primary athletic trainer for baseball. He is also responsible men’s and women’s cross country, oversees the softball graduate assistant and is the insurance coordinator.

Self was an associate athletic trainer at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., from 2002-08. While at Charleston, he was the facility coordinator of the Patriots Point Athletic Training room with sport assignments to the baseball and women’s tennis teams. Prior to his stint at the College of Charleston, Self served as an athletic trainer for the Texas Rangers Minor League Baseball Club for two seasons. While with the Texas Rangers he was responsible for the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation associated with the rookie classification Gulf Coast Rangers. Self was also a graduate assistant at Western Michigan University where he earned his Master of Arts degree in physical education and recreation with an athletic training emphasis in 2002.

Self graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education and athletic training in May 2000. While an athletic training student at Coe College, he was also a member of the men’s swimming team.

Originally from Grand Island, Neb., Self and his wife, Kristine, reside in Omaha. He is a certified athletic trainer and has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 1998. He is also an approved clinical instructor through CAAHEP as well as CPR and AED certified.

The Creighton University Athletic Training staff works in cooperation with and under the supervision of physicians to provide the best possible care for student-athletes. It has a staff of four full-time certified and state-licensed athletic trainers, two interns and a graduate assistant that are certified and state-licensed athletic trainers. Athletic training students also gain clinical experience as they help serve the sports medicine needs of Creighton student-athletes. The mission of Creighton University Athletic Training is to serve as the initial allied healthcare provider for Creighton University student-athletes and to provide access to other healthcare professionals as needed. Services include prevention, assessment, management and rehabilitation of athletic-related injuries and illnesses. Brad Schmidt

Strength and Conditioning Coach Iowa State (2008) • Fourth Season at Creighton

Brad Schmidt is in his fourth season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Creighton baseball team. A graduate of Iowa State in 2008, Schmidt served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at South Dakota State for two years before taking the same position at Creighton in January of 2012.

During his time with the Jackrabbits, Brad earned his Master’s at South Dakota State in 2010.

Schmidt is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as a certified sports performance coach by USA Weightlifting. He and his wife, Vanessa, reside in Omaha with their daughter, Ava.

Creighton University student-athletes benefit from year-round strength and conditioning training programs in The Championship Center. The 6,000 square foot state-of-the-art Athletic Performance Center is equipped with 12 Power Lift half-racks that each have inlaid lifting platforms and the EliteForm system. Additionally, the Athletic Performance Center features Uesaka Collegiate Series Bumper Plates, Plae Flooring, Iron Grip dumbbells, and a nutrition/hydration station to provide Creighton student-athletes with the optimal training and recovery environment.

The strength and conditioning program at Creighton University is designed to help the athletes become strong and powerful. The program combines Olympic lifts, strength training exercises, plyometrics, speed and agility development, flexibility, and car- diovascular regimes. The routie is then specifically tailored to each athlete, the sport they participate in and to their individual experience and ability. The goal of the program is to reduce the chance of injury and to help all athletes reach their full potential.

16 2015 Creighton Baseball Media Guide