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Friday, May 28, 2004
Creek tough to keep out of Maine lineup
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||||||||
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Creek learned that come first pitch, the dugout is not the place he wants to be. "More than anything, I learned that I want to be in the lineup," Creek said. "I'll do anything I can to stay there." Taking Creek out of the Black Bears' starting lineup now is the most harebrained thing Maine coach Paul Kostacopoulos could do. The only Maine player to start all 52 of the Black Bears' games this season, Creek has put up numbers that have him at the top of the team in most offensive categories. "He really was a huge part of our team last year. He was just in a different role," Kostacopoulos said. "He pitched a lot for us last year, he went 5-0 for a team that won 38 games." After starting the season as the Black Bears' first baseman, Creek has moved to third base in recent weeks. This weekend's America East Conference tournament is Creek's first chance to see significant postseason playoff time. "Last year, I didn't get to play in the conference tournament," Creek said. "I didn't get a chance to contribute. I watched us lose and it was frustrating." On Thursday night against the University of Albany, Creek was at third base and hit cleanup for the Black Bears, and there was very little for him to get frustrated about. Maine took a 9-3 win, jumping on the Great Danes all-conference pitcher Steve Emmerthal for five runs in the first inning. Maine now plays Stony Brook today at 3:30 p.m. in the winner's bracket. "A win's never a bad start," Creek said. "It makes it so much easier on the pitching staff. Now you won't have to play five games. The most you can play is four." Creek was 2-for-3, scoring two runs and walking once. Both his hits were opposite field singles to left. "That's my bread and butter, going the other way," Creek said. A Chelsea resident and Maranacook Community School graduate, Creek leads the Black Bears in runs (46), hits (77), doubles (17), total bases (118) and is tied for the team lead in in runs batted in (44). Creek's .371 batting average entering the America East tournament, held this weekend at Orono's Mahaney Diamond, was second on the team, just one point behind Joel Barrett. Creek's six home runs tie him for second highest on the team. "It's not really surprising me," Creek said. "I knew I'd have to be in this situation if we were going to win baseball games." Creek's 202 at bats this season is almost four times as many as he had as a sophomore in 2003, when he hit .322 with 17 RBI in 27 games. As a freshman in 2002, Creek saw time in just six games, picking up two hits in seven at bats. Now that he's playing every day, Creek is reminded of the past. "It's like high school again. I'm playing every day, pitching once in a while," Creek said. As a senior at Maranacook, Creek was named Maine's Mr. Baseball. He struck out 54 hitters and walked just four in 31 innings in his final year at Maranacook, and early in his Maine career, it appeared that Creek would play a big role on the mound. As a freshman, Creek pitched in 13 games, starting five, and posted a 3-1 record. Last season Creek pitched 41.1 innings and went 5-0. With his offensive contributions to the team dramatically increasing this season, Creek's time on the mound has been cut in half. Creek has thrown just 20.1 innings this season, posting a 2-0 record an a 1.77 earned run average. "(The coaches) don't expect to get too much out of me. I don't get the chance to throw much in practice," Creek said. "I'll start midweek games when they need me. I just try and do the best I can." "When you're asking a guy to play 53 games in the field, play a new position at third and anchor the middle of the lineup, you can't ask him to throw 65 innings too," Kostacopoulos said. This week, Creek was named to the America East's Second Team, and also was named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division I All-Star team. The Division I All-Stars are scheduled to play against the Division II and III All-Stars on Sunday at Fenway Park. Creek's appearance in the game might depend on how Maine does in the conference tournament, but he hopes to get his swings at Fenway. "It was a surprise to be chosen. Obviously, it's a dream to play in any big league park," Creek said. "As of now, I'm planning on it. Any way I can get there, I will." Travis Lazarczyk - 861-9242 tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com |
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