Creek key cog for UM Versatile senior set for Huskies

ORONO ? Greg Creek is the most versatile player on the University of Maine baseball team.

The senior captain from Chelsea is one of the team’s best hitters and also has proven himself among the Black Bears’ most effective pitchers. He can play first base or in the outfield.

UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos had planned to utilize all of Creek’s talents during 2005, but has been forced to settle for his offensive contributions.

Creek’s potent bat will be important this weekend as the Bears entertain Northeastern for an important America East three-game series. Today’s doubleheader starts at noon.

“He’s just a throwback, an old-fashioned baseball player,” Kostacopoulos said. “He does everything extremely well. He’s a smart baseball player.”

Creek’s ability to contribute for the Bears has been hampered by two different injuries.

In his second at-bat of the season in Florida, Creek was hit by a pitch on the left wrist. The resulting fracture, diagnosed two weeks later, caused him to miss six games and altered his swing.

Upon returning home, Creek came down with a sore right (pitching) forearm. That knocked the No. 3 starter out of the rotation and relegated him to the designated hitter role.

In spite of the setbacks, Creek remains a key cog in the UMaine lineup. The former Maranacook High star is batting .326 with a team-leading eight home runs and has knocked in 23 runs. He tops the club with 23 walks and a .440 on-base percentage.

“It’s extremely frustrating, because I want to help the team more than I’m able to right now,” said Creek. “When you’re struggling with the bat and that’s the only thing you can do, it really eats away at you.”

Creek downplays the effects of the wrist injury, which not only sidelined him briefly but forced him to make some adjustments.

“The mechanical changes, the junk I picked up trying to get around the wrist thing, kind of stuck with me,” Creek said. “It’s been tough.”

Kostacopoulos marvels that Creek has continued to produce in spite of the injuries.

“I think he’s frustrated because he can’t contribute in those other areas,” Kostacopoulos said. “Throughout it all, he still has found a way to help the team win.”

Creek’s versatility has been his calling card during a productive four-year career. As a freshman, there simply wasn’t room for him in a veteran lineup.

Instead, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound righthander posted a 3-1 record in 12 mound appearances, including five starts.

He worked his way into the lineup later in his sophomore season at first base and hit .322. He also went 5-0 with two saves as a pitcher.

In 2004, Creek had a breakout season as a first baseman and DH. He batted .365 with six homers and 45 RBIs on his way to All-America East and All-New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association second-team honors.

His career pitching record at UMaine is 12-3 with two saves and a 3.97 earned run average in 37 appearances.

Leadership is a quality Creek demonstrates through his work ethic and dedication to academics and the team concept.

“He’s a 3.0-plus student who’s done extraordinarily well, who’s an extremely good citizen,” Kostacopoulos said.

Creek, who graduated a week ago with a degree in kinesiology and physical education, hopes one day to become a baseball coach.

His short-term focus is getting healthy enough to make a bid at a professional career. Creek had the eye of many major league scouts in Florida, especially as a pitcher.

“It’s obviously a bad thing, going through the arm problem,” said Creek, who was seen Thursday in Boston by a Red Sox team physician and is expected to be fine with more rest.

“Most of the interest was in the pitching department,” he added. “I’ll definitely play somewhere; independent ball. I’ll just try to work my way up.”