Baseball Adds 10 for 2018

Omaha, Neb. -- Creighton baseball head coach Ed Servais has announced the signing of 10 new Bluejays that will join the squad in 2018.

The ten Bluejays signed to letters of intent are Jackson Berney (Holdrege, Neb.), Max Clark (Winter Park, Fla.), Ryan Connolly (Castle Rock, Colo.), Garrett Gilbert (Westosha, Wis.), Evan Johnson (Gilbert, Iowa), Jordan Hovey (Edwardsville, Ill.), Ryan Mantle (Linn, Mo.), Mitch Ragan (Omaha, Neb.), Nathan Shoemaker (Chanhassen, Minn.), and Evan Spry (Janeville, Wis.).

"I am very impressed not only with the baseball ability of this class but also with the character of this class," said Servais. "Coach Wallace has done a great job in identifying some outstanding student-athletes. With every class we must identify pitching and he did that. We also are looking to be more athletic and better offensively and I am impressed with the offensive players that we have signed."

A 6-4 switch-hitter than can play in both the infield and the outfield, Berney excels in multiple sports at Holdrege HS, specifically football and baseball. Berney was a Super-State selection by the Lincoln Journal-Star after his junior season.

Clark is a 6-3 right handed pitcher with a plus fastball from Winter Park HS, with the ability to throw strikes with three different pitchers.

Connolly will join the Bluejays as a sophomore after beginning his collegiate career at Nebraska. He redshirted the 2016 season and will play for Iowa Western in the spring. Coming out of Douglas County HS, Connolly was a top-10 recruit from Colorado and ranked in the top-100 southpaws in the country by Perfect Game.

Gilbert is a 6-2 catcher from Westosha Central HS, he closed his junior season hitting .398 with 33 hits and 25 RBI in 26 contests. As a sophomore those numbers were even better as he hit .411 over 20 games.

An incoming junior transfer from Iowa Central CC, Johnson appeared in eight games last season for the Tritons. He started five contests and closed the season with a 3-0 record, tossing 28.2 innings. Originally from Gilbert, Iowa, the 5-11 right hander posted 24 strikeouts and just 12 walks as a freshman.

Both Hovey and Mantle will join the Bluejays next season after beginning their careers at Missouri State. The duo left the Bears after last season and will spend 2017 at Jefferson College. Hovey is a 6-2 shortstop that hit .250 in limited action last year. Coming out of high school Hovey was a 2015 Louisville Slugger High School All-American and a First Team All-State selection. Mantle is a 5-10 infielder who appeared in 20 games for the Bears in 2016. He was a three-time First Team All-State Selection in Missouri. Mantle was named the 58th rated junior college prospect by Perfect Game.

An Omaha native, Ragan is a 6-3 right hander that pitched at Wayne State last season. Appearing in 10 contests, Ragan started nine time and posted a 3-3 record. He tossed one complete game and posted one shutout last season. A graduate of Millard West HS, Ragan will pitch for Iowa Western during the 2017 campaign.

A 6-3 right hander, Shoemaker comes to Creighton from Minnetonka HS. Another dual sport star, Shoemaker was a wide receiver for the Skippers. On the diamond, Shoemaker brings a power arm and is the 34th ranked player in Minnesota.

The Bluejays final signee, Spry, is a 6-1 corner infielder from Janesville Craig HS. Spry led his squad to the State Tournament last season and is one of three members of the team to sign with DI programs.

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