ORONO – Greg Creek has learned to be flexible during his first three years on the University of Maine baseball team.

The former standout at Maranacook High in Readfield started out at third base, but spent the better part of his first two seasons primarily as a pitcher. He then earned playing time at first base, but wound up as the starting third baseman.

Creek has given his all, regardless of where he plays. The versatile junior from Chelsea has emerged as one of the top hitters in America East.

Thursday at 7 p.m., he’ll lead the second-seeded Black Bears into a first-round tournament game against No. 3 Albany at Mahaney Diamond.

Creek, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound third baseman, has been a full-time starter this season for the first time in his career. He ranks fifth in America East with a .368 batting average and leads the league with 75 hits.

The lefthanded-hitting Creek is second in doubles (16), third in runs scored (43) and total bases (109), and fourth in runs batted in (44). He also has belted six home runs.

“He’s a good hitter, but his consistency has surprised me,” said UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos. “He’s got 75 hits and he’s never had a slump.”

The success comes after a long summer during which he was a relief pitcher for the Riverpoint Royals (R.I.) of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. While there, he got one at-bat all season.

“I basically just sat on my butt,” Creek said. “It was frustrating, but what can you do about it?”

What Creek did was take extra batting practice, every day, to make sure he stayed sharp. He has hit safely in 43 of the Bears’ 51 games this season and has been held hitless in back-to-back games only once.

“I think it’s more of a focus at-bat to at-bat, fighting for every at-bat,” Creek said. “I’ve had hits in most games this season, which is what our goal was for me.”

Creek, who prefers to have a structure and plan to everything he does, has instead learned to adjust in the face of frequent changes.

A shortstop and pitcher in high school for his dad, Terry Creek, he was first projected as a third baseman at UMaine. As a freshman, he struggled there.

“I made error after error after error. I was miserable and coach was miserable watching me play there,” Creek chuckled.

Creek instead focused on pitching and was 3-1 in 12 appearances. He followed that up last season with a 5-0 record, two saves and a 4.14 earned run average in 14 outings.

Creek also emerged as a part-time starter at first base late in 2003 and batted .322 with two home runs and 17 RBIs.

He started the 2004 season at first base and played well. But when teammate Joel Barrett got hot with the bat and merited a spot in the lineup, Creek was moved back to third base.

“I’m a better first baseman than a third baseman, but our team needs a third baseman,” said Creek, who hasn’t missed a beat, in part because he has learned to take things in stride.

“For him that’s a tremendous accomplishment, because that’s not his personality,” Kostacopoulos said. “He’s a little more carefree and I think that shows in his play. He’s letting his athletic skills take hold and is starting to believe in himself.”

Creek still contributes on the mound. While he’s only made six appearances and throws only occasionally in practice, he’s 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA.

“I’m not tuned up like a lot of the pitchers are. I’m just competing against the batter in whatever way I can,” Creek said.

Kostacopoulos wanted Creek to focus on hitting and playing the field this season, even though he is 10-1 lifetime at UMaine with a 4.07 ERA. He knows Creek would gladly take the mound to help the team.

“He’s found a way every year to contribute to this team, whether it’s pitching, hitting or doing both,” Kostacopoulos said. “He’s really been the ideal player for this program.”

Creek plans to play for Bourne in the Cape Cod League this summer. First, he wants to help the Bears win an America East championship.