
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Cancellieri and Grace Earn Preseason All-BIG EAST, Bluejays Slotted Fourth in Preseason Poll
12/19/2023 10:01:00 AM | Baseball
Omaha, Neb. -- Seniors Jack Grace and Dominic Cancellieri represented Creighton Baseball on the 2024 Preseason All-BIG EAST team, announced Tuesday, December 19. In addition the BIG EAST Baseball Coaches slotted Creighton to finish fourth in preseason poll, finishing in a tie with Georgetown.
A 2023 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection at DH, Grace led led Creighton with 11 home runs and 31 RBI during the 2023 season, also finishing fourth on the team with a .295 batting average. Jack appeared in 47 games for the Bluejays, earning the start in 45 contests. The Illinois native delivered 46 hits, 23 runs scored and a .519 slugging percentage.
Cancellieri started 10 games last season, making 14 appearances overall. He tossed 58.0 innings last season, closing the year with a 5.43 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 19 walks.
Connecticut was picked repeat as the regular-season champion with six first-place votes and 48 points overall. The BIG EAST Tournament champion in 2023, Xavier, was picked second with 44 points and the final two first-place votes. Seton Hall came in third with 35 points, while Creighton and Georgetown each received 29 points. Predicted to finish in sixth place is St. John's (17 points), followed by Butler (14 points) and Villanova at eight points.
The Bluejays open the 2024 season on Friday, February 16 with a three-game series at Coppin State.
2024 Preseason Baseball All-BIG EAST Team and Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Jake Studley, OF, Connecticut
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Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Stephen Quigley, SP, Connecticut
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Preseason All-BIG EAST Team*
C – Owen Carapellotti, Georgetown
1B – Matt McCormick, Xavier ^
2B – Jared Cushing, Xavier
3B – Grant Stephenson, Xavier ^
SS – Max Viera, Seton Hall
DH – Jack Grace, Creighton
OF – Joey Urban, Butler
OF – Jake Studley, Connecticut ^
OF – Devin Hack, Seton Hall
SP – Garrett Coe, Connecticut
SP – Stephen Quigley, Connecticut ^
SP – Dominic Cancellieri, Creighton
SP – Cody Bowker, Georgetown
SP – Luke Hoskins, Xavier
RP – Ryan Reich, Seton Hall
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^ - denotes unanimous selection
* due to a tie in voting, there is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team.
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BIG EAST Baseball Preseason Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. Connecticut (6) – 48
2. Xavier (2) – 44
3. Seton Hall – 35
4. Creighton – 29
4. Georgetown – 29
6. St. John's – 17
7. Butler – 14
8. Villanova – 8
A 2023 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection at DH, Grace led led Creighton with 11 home runs and 31 RBI during the 2023 season, also finishing fourth on the team with a .295 batting average. Jack appeared in 47 games for the Bluejays, earning the start in 45 contests. The Illinois native delivered 46 hits, 23 runs scored and a .519 slugging percentage.
Cancellieri started 10 games last season, making 14 appearances overall. He tossed 58.0 innings last season, closing the year with a 5.43 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 19 walks.
Connecticut was picked repeat as the regular-season champion with six first-place votes and 48 points overall. The BIG EAST Tournament champion in 2023, Xavier, was picked second with 44 points and the final two first-place votes. Seton Hall came in third with 35 points, while Creighton and Georgetown each received 29 points. Predicted to finish in sixth place is St. John's (17 points), followed by Butler (14 points) and Villanova at eight points.
The Bluejays open the 2024 season on Friday, February 16 with a three-game series at Coppin State.
2024 Preseason Baseball All-BIG EAST Team and Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Jake Studley, OF, Connecticut
Â
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Stephen Quigley, SP, Connecticut
Â
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team*
C – Owen Carapellotti, Georgetown
1B – Matt McCormick, Xavier ^
2B – Jared Cushing, Xavier
3B – Grant Stephenson, Xavier ^
SS – Max Viera, Seton Hall
DH – Jack Grace, Creighton
OF – Joey Urban, Butler
OF – Jake Studley, Connecticut ^
OF – Devin Hack, Seton Hall
SP – Garrett Coe, Connecticut
SP – Stephen Quigley, Connecticut ^
SP – Dominic Cancellieri, Creighton
SP – Cody Bowker, Georgetown
SP – Luke Hoskins, Xavier
RP – Ryan Reich, Seton Hall
Â
^ - denotes unanimous selection
* due to a tie in voting, there is an extra member on the preseason all-conference team.
Â
BIG EAST Baseball Preseason Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. Connecticut (6) – 48
2. Xavier (2) – 44
3. Seton Hall – 35
4. Creighton – 29
4. Georgetown – 29
6. St. John's – 17
7. Butler – 14
8. Villanova – 8
Players Mentioned
2013 Creighton Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Dan Smith
Friday, October 30
Jim Hendry & Alan Benes (4/11/11)
Friday, October 30
CREIGHTON BASEBALL
Thursday, October 15
Ambidextrous Pitcher
Thursday, October 15