Photo by: Rooted Creative
Baseball Announces 10 Additions For 2022 Recruiting Class
11/19/2021 11:10:00 AM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- Baseball was busy during the November the national letter of intent period, signing 10 new faces to the team. Ben Ayala (Omaha, Neb.), Shane Curtin (La Grange, Ill.), Michael Finan (Omaha, Neb.), Maddux Fleck (Omaha, Neb.), Devin Jones (Papillion, Neb.), Mason Koch (Omaha, Neb.), Robert O'Malley (Omaha, Neb.), Jack Scheri (Peru, Ill.), Anthony Watts (Clive, Iowa) and Cuyler Zukowski (Madison, WI) are the names that will join the Bluejays for the 2023 season.
"In every recruiting class you need to add pitching. Looking at our roster we are a little right-handed dominant. Most staffs are, but this class brings pitchability and unique arm angles, those are the types of pitchers that have had great success at Creighton," said head coach Ed Servais. "We are also adding some power arms with diverse arm slots, including a transfer from Iowa Western who will bring significant experience."
"Across the board our position players are much more athletic and more physical, which means they are more ready to play immediately when walking onto campus. These kids have a great deal of talent, but I believe each one has the ability to make another jump. That is what you look for when you recruit, you're going to see significant growth from each player and that excites me about this class." added Servais.
Ayala is one of three right-handed pitchers joining the Bluejays. A senior at Elkhorn High School (coached by Kyle McRight), Ayala is a Top-10 ranked player in Nebraska, according to Prep Baseball Report. He is a three-time Perfect Game event all-tournament team member across 2020 and 2021 and was named a Preseason Underclass All American by PG for those seasons. Ayala is one of four products of the Nebraska Prospect team that is coached by Rollie Kenny.
Curtin pitches for Mount Carmel High School, where he is coached by Brian Hurry. One of two left-handed pitchers in the class, he posted a 1.30 ERA over 52 innings. Across nine appearances Curtin notched 46 strikeouts and 22 walks. A product of the Top Tier club team coached by Matt Plante, Curtis features a fastball in the mid 80s as well as two breaking pitches and a change.
Finan is a right-handed pitcher transferring from Iowa Western Community College, coached by Marc Rardin, who brings with him a year of college baseball experience. Finan hurled 17.1 innings in 11 appearances for the Reivers last season, logging 23 strike outs and a 3.63 ERA across that span. A graduate of Westside High School, coached by Bob Greco, will be returning to his hometown of Omaha.
Fleck is one of three Millard West High School student-athletes, coached by Steve Fry, that signed with the Bluejays. The trio also each play for Nebraska Prospects, coached by Rollie Kenny. Bringing hitting prowess from both sides of the plate, Fleck is the No. 1 ranked shortstop in Nebraska and the No. 3 player in the state overall.
The No. 2 ranked outfielder in Nebraska, Jones brings exceptional speed and defense to the team. He clocked the top 60-yard dash time at the MLB Midwest Scouting Association event and a top five time at the New Balance Future Stars Combine. At the plate Jones earned four Perfect Game Top Performer titles and two PG all-tournament selections.
Koch is the top-ranked player in Nebraska, the No. 116 ranked right-handed pitcher in the nation (Perfect Game) and the Bluejays third addition from Millard West. The right-handed reliever wields a fastball that is already hitting 93-94 MPH. In 3.2 innings pitched in last year's Nebraska State Tournament Koch notably posted three saves, nine strikeouts, no hits, one walk, and a 0.00 ERA.
The second southpaw in the signing class, O'Malley brings an ERA under 2.00 last season, with a 9-1 record in legion ball. A Creighton Prep product, O'Malley's family has strong ties to the Bluejays as he father (Mike) works in the Liberal Arts College as the Senior Director of Development. O'Malley was coached at Prep by Pat Mooney.
Scheri is the third ranked shortstop in Illinois out of LaSalle Peru Township High School, where he has been varsity captain for two years. He has been selected to the Prep Baseball Report futures game twice and slugged a .480 batting average in summer ball earlier in 2021. Scheri was coached by Matt Glupszunski with LaSalle Peru Township HS.
Watts of Waukee Northwest High School, where he was coached by Jeremy Heinen, enters the Bluejays pitching staff as the No. 7 ranked overall recruit and the No. 3 ranked right-hander in Iowa. Through the last two season Watts earned an 8-2 record through 64 innings pitched with 86 strikeouts to just 20 walks. Watts played club ball for the Mid South Prospects in the fall.
Zukowski is the final signee in the class of 2022, an outfielder at Madison LaFollette High School, where he was coached by Nate Verhage. In his junior season, Zukowski was named Second Team All-State in Wisconsin and First Team for All-Southwest District, All-Big 8 Conference, and All-City. In that season he hit .450 at the plate and held a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
"Having a few years together as a staff helps every aspect of the game, including recruiting. I think Connor (Gandossy) is more familiar with what it takes to succeed at Creighton, there is more to it than simply the talent on the field. This entire class are outstanding students, which is critical for our institution," said Servais. "Connor (Gandossy) has done a remarkable job developing relationships with coaches of the travel teams, he has a better understanding of what type of player works well within our system. That excites me as I think many of these players could burst on the scene as early as next year."
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"In every recruiting class you need to add pitching. Looking at our roster we are a little right-handed dominant. Most staffs are, but this class brings pitchability and unique arm angles, those are the types of pitchers that have had great success at Creighton," said head coach Ed Servais. "We are also adding some power arms with diverse arm slots, including a transfer from Iowa Western who will bring significant experience."
"Across the board our position players are much more athletic and more physical, which means they are more ready to play immediately when walking onto campus. These kids have a great deal of talent, but I believe each one has the ability to make another jump. That is what you look for when you recruit, you're going to see significant growth from each player and that excites me about this class." added Servais.
Ayala is one of three right-handed pitchers joining the Bluejays. A senior at Elkhorn High School (coached by Kyle McRight), Ayala is a Top-10 ranked player in Nebraska, according to Prep Baseball Report. He is a three-time Perfect Game event all-tournament team member across 2020 and 2021 and was named a Preseason Underclass All American by PG for those seasons. Ayala is one of four products of the Nebraska Prospect team that is coached by Rollie Kenny.
Curtin pitches for Mount Carmel High School, where he is coached by Brian Hurry. One of two left-handed pitchers in the class, he posted a 1.30 ERA over 52 innings. Across nine appearances Curtin notched 46 strikeouts and 22 walks. A product of the Top Tier club team coached by Matt Plante, Curtis features a fastball in the mid 80s as well as two breaking pitches and a change.
Finan is a right-handed pitcher transferring from Iowa Western Community College, coached by Marc Rardin, who brings with him a year of college baseball experience. Finan hurled 17.1 innings in 11 appearances for the Reivers last season, logging 23 strike outs and a 3.63 ERA across that span. A graduate of Westside High School, coached by Bob Greco, will be returning to his hometown of Omaha.
Fleck is one of three Millard West High School student-athletes, coached by Steve Fry, that signed with the Bluejays. The trio also each play for Nebraska Prospects, coached by Rollie Kenny. Bringing hitting prowess from both sides of the plate, Fleck is the No. 1 ranked shortstop in Nebraska and the No. 3 player in the state overall.
The No. 2 ranked outfielder in Nebraska, Jones brings exceptional speed and defense to the team. He clocked the top 60-yard dash time at the MLB Midwest Scouting Association event and a top five time at the New Balance Future Stars Combine. At the plate Jones earned four Perfect Game Top Performer titles and two PG all-tournament selections.
Koch is the top-ranked player in Nebraska, the No. 116 ranked right-handed pitcher in the nation (Perfect Game) and the Bluejays third addition from Millard West. The right-handed reliever wields a fastball that is already hitting 93-94 MPH. In 3.2 innings pitched in last year's Nebraska State Tournament Koch notably posted three saves, nine strikeouts, no hits, one walk, and a 0.00 ERA.
The second southpaw in the signing class, O'Malley brings an ERA under 2.00 last season, with a 9-1 record in legion ball. A Creighton Prep product, O'Malley's family has strong ties to the Bluejays as he father (Mike) works in the Liberal Arts College as the Senior Director of Development. O'Malley was coached at Prep by Pat Mooney.
Scheri is the third ranked shortstop in Illinois out of LaSalle Peru Township High School, where he has been varsity captain for two years. He has been selected to the Prep Baseball Report futures game twice and slugged a .480 batting average in summer ball earlier in 2021. Scheri was coached by Matt Glupszunski with LaSalle Peru Township HS.
Watts of Waukee Northwest High School, where he was coached by Jeremy Heinen, enters the Bluejays pitching staff as the No. 7 ranked overall recruit and the No. 3 ranked right-hander in Iowa. Through the last two season Watts earned an 8-2 record through 64 innings pitched with 86 strikeouts to just 20 walks. Watts played club ball for the Mid South Prospects in the fall.
Zukowski is the final signee in the class of 2022, an outfielder at Madison LaFollette High School, where he was coached by Nate Verhage. In his junior season, Zukowski was named Second Team All-State in Wisconsin and First Team for All-Southwest District, All-Big 8 Conference, and All-City. In that season he hit .450 at the plate and held a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
"Having a few years together as a staff helps every aspect of the game, including recruiting. I think Connor (Gandossy) is more familiar with what it takes to succeed at Creighton, there is more to it than simply the talent on the field. This entire class are outstanding students, which is critical for our institution," said Servais. "Connor (Gandossy) has done a remarkable job developing relationships with coaches of the travel teams, he has a better understanding of what type of player works well within our system. That excites me as I think many of these players could burst on the scene as early as next year."
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