OMAHA, Neb. - The
Creighton baseball team came out of this fall's early signing period with four
new recruits inked to national letters of intent. Mike Gerber, Anthony Bemboom,
Matthew Hartmann and Andrew Holt all will don the Blue and White in 2011 for the
Jays.
Gerber is currently in his senior year at Neuqua Valley High
School in Naperville, Ill. After hitting .346 with nine home runs and 32 RBI in
2009, Gerber was a unanimous first team All-Conference selection and was ranked
the fourth best overall outfielder in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report.
Bemboom will make the short trek across the Missouri River
from Iowa Western Community College. Bemboom was IWCC's everyday catcher as a
freshman last spring, batting .329 with 39 RBIs. He also flashed rare speed for
a catcher, stealing eight bases, and also projects to see time in the outfield. He is a native of Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Hartmann comes to Creighton from Lincoln Way East High
School in Mokena, Ill. A right-hander, he is the 32nd ranked pitcher
in Illinois according to Prep Baseball Report. In his junior campaign at
Lincoln Way, he struck out 42 batters in 33 1/3 innings, en route to a 4-2
record with one save.
Holt is the second catcher signed by Jays during the early
signing period, as he comes to Omaha from Central Catholic High School in
Bloomington, Ill. Holt had a record-setting junior season, posting 24 doubles
for a new CCHS record, while also adding 37 RBIs. He is also a two-time, first
team All-Conference pick.
Holt will carry on a family tradition of attending
Creighton, as his father Andy was a catcher for the Jays from 1981-85, while
his mother Jean was a part of the softball team from 1979-83. Holt's cousin,
Brian, is currently the starting goalkeeper on the men's soccer team.
Creighton will look to improve on a 31-25 record in 2009 and
earn its first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2007 this spring. The season
opens up on Feb. 20 in Conway, Ark. against Central Arkansas.
