Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Baseball Picked To Repeat in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
12/18/2019 12:39:00 PM | Baseball
New York, N.Y. -- Despite losing its top three starters and the entire infield to the professional ranks following the 2019 season, the Creighton Baseball team was picked to repeat as the BIG EAST champions when the coaches poll was announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18th.
Creighton narrowly edged out Seton Hall, St. John's and Xavier as each of those three teams finished tied for second place. The Bluejays claimed two first place votes and finished with 29 total points. Seton Hall, St. John's and Xavier each collected 28 points, while the Pirates nabbed three first place votes. Butler was picked to finish fifth with 14 votes, while Villanova and Georgetown were sixth and seventh respectively with 11 and nine points.
Individually two Bluejays were selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, redshirt senior Ryan Mantle (DH) and sophomore outfielder Jared Wegner.
Last season Creighton was the BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Champions, closing the year in the NCAA Regional Final against Michigan. The Bluejays finished the season 41-13 overall record and 14-4 in BIG EAST. The Bluejays eliminated the 2018 CWS Champion, Oregon State, as well as Cincinnati before falling to the eventual 2019 CWS runner up (Michigan). The Bluejays swept their way to their first BIG EAST Tournament championship, defeating Seton Hall, St. John's and Xavier.
Returning to lead the Bluejays in 2020 will be senior Parker Upton (.324 BA with 10 HR and 34 RBI in 50 games) and senior Ryan Mantle, who was sidelined throughout the 2019 season. Mantle was an ALL-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2018, hitting .291 in 45 games. On the mound the Bluejays expect senior John Sakowski to anchor the bullpen, Sakowski was 7-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 47.2 innings.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. Creighton (2) – 29 points
T2. Seton Hall (3) – 28 points
T2. St. John's (1) – 28 points
T2. Xavier (1) – 28 points
5. Butler – 14 points
6. Villanova – 11 points
7. Georgetown – 9 points
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Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Mike Antico, St. John's, Sr., OF ^
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Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Connor Schultz, Butler, Jr., RHP
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Preseason All-BIG EAST *
Natale Monastra, Xavier, Sr., C
^ Matt Toke, Seton Hall, 1B
Ryan Altenberger, Xavier, Jr., 2B
Jack Housinger, Xavier, So., SS
Eddie McCabe, Georgetown, Jr., 3B
Ryan Mantle, Creighton, RS-Sr., DH
Jared Wegner, Creighton, So., OF
^ Mike Antico, St. John's, Sr., OF
Tyler Shedler-McAvoy, Seton Hall, Sr., OF
^ Connor Schultz, Butler, Jr., RHP
Noah Thompson, Seton Hall, Sr., RHP
Nick Mondak, St. John's, Sr., LHP
David Festa, Seton Hall, So., RHP
Gordon Graceffo, Villanova, So., RHP
Nick LoRusso, Villanova, So., INF/RHP
^ Lane Flamm, Xavier, So., RHP (RP)
^ - denotes unanimous selectionÂÂÂÂ
* due to a tie in voting, there are six starting pitchers on the preseason all-conference team
Creighton narrowly edged out Seton Hall, St. John's and Xavier as each of those three teams finished tied for second place. The Bluejays claimed two first place votes and finished with 29 total points. Seton Hall, St. John's and Xavier each collected 28 points, while the Pirates nabbed three first place votes. Butler was picked to finish fifth with 14 votes, while Villanova and Georgetown were sixth and seventh respectively with 11 and nine points.
Individually two Bluejays were selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, redshirt senior Ryan Mantle (DH) and sophomore outfielder Jared Wegner.
Last season Creighton was the BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Champions, closing the year in the NCAA Regional Final against Michigan. The Bluejays finished the season 41-13 overall record and 14-4 in BIG EAST. The Bluejays eliminated the 2018 CWS Champion, Oregon State, as well as Cincinnati before falling to the eventual 2019 CWS runner up (Michigan). The Bluejays swept their way to their first BIG EAST Tournament championship, defeating Seton Hall, St. John's and Xavier.
Returning to lead the Bluejays in 2020 will be senior Parker Upton (.324 BA with 10 HR and 34 RBI in 50 games) and senior Ryan Mantle, who was sidelined throughout the 2019 season. Mantle was an ALL-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2018, hitting .291 in 45 games. On the mound the Bluejays expect senior John Sakowski to anchor the bullpen, Sakowski was 7-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 47.2 innings.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. Creighton (2) – 29 points
T2. Seton Hall (3) – 28 points
T2. St. John's (1) – 28 points
T2. Xavier (1) – 28 points
5. Butler – 14 points
6. Villanova – 11 points
7. Georgetown – 9 points
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Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Mike Antico, St. John's, Sr., OF ^
Â
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Connor Schultz, Butler, Jr., RHP
Â
Preseason All-BIG EAST *
Natale Monastra, Xavier, Sr., C
^ Matt Toke, Seton Hall, 1B
Ryan Altenberger, Xavier, Jr., 2B
Jack Housinger, Xavier, So., SS
Eddie McCabe, Georgetown, Jr., 3B
Ryan Mantle, Creighton, RS-Sr., DH
Jared Wegner, Creighton, So., OF
^ Mike Antico, St. John's, Sr., OF
Tyler Shedler-McAvoy, Seton Hall, Sr., OF
^ Connor Schultz, Butler, Jr., RHP
Noah Thompson, Seton Hall, Sr., RHP
Nick Mondak, St. John's, Sr., LHP
David Festa, Seton Hall, So., RHP
Gordon Graceffo, Villanova, So., RHP
Nick LoRusso, Villanova, So., INF/RHP
^ Lane Flamm, Xavier, So., RHP (RP)
^ - denotes unanimous selectionÂÂÂÂ
* due to a tie in voting, there are six starting pitchers on the preseason all-conference team
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
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RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
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