Stars of the I.S.C. – – – – – July, 2005
(A Tribute to the Past, Present, and Emerging Stars of the Sport of Fastball)
JEREMY CREEDEN – – – Wind him up and he starts hitting!
He’s back!!!
And he will be a potent force to reckon with – – – again – – – in 2005 international tourney action.
Who is “He”? He is JEREMY CREEDEN. And his potent bat will be in action as the Harriston, Ontario, Mercurys return to ISC – II Tournament of Champions action in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The Mercurys will be defending the title which they won in both 2004 and 2003.
And Creeden? He’ll be ready to take up where he left off last season when he was voted the ISC – II Tournament of Champions’ “MOST VALUABLE PLAYER” in leading his team to the 2004 title.
The 27-year-old Creeden hit a blistering .370 with a home run and six RBI as his team swept to eight straight wins and the 2004 championship in Fargo/Moorhead. He was already in the ISC – II record book, being among the all-time leaders in “Most hits in a tournament” from his 2003 performance with Harriston.
It isn’t hard to understand how Creeden got attached to ball fields at an early age. His home in Wingham, Ontario, was just three houses from the town ball park. So young Jeremy started early with “T” ball action with the kids of his town.
That action on the diamond stopped at age 12 when his family moved to a cottage on Lake Huron. It resumed by age 16 when he turned to fastball again, traveling to Wroxeter to play third base in a Midget program with the Wroxeter Rippers. That move came since there was no Midget team in Wingham and he had buddies playing in Wroxeter.
It was at that point that an injury wrecked the shoulder of his throwing arm and he moved from third base to the role of DH – – – a position in the batting order he has occupied ever since.
Young Jeremy’s athletic adventures weren’t limited to fastball. In high school he played soccer for four years. He also excelled on the track team for four years – – being a member of his school’s record-setting 4 X 100 relay team. And of course hockey entered his life early (Creeden IS Canadian you understand!) When his family moved to that cottage on Lake Huron, he started playing hockey year round – – even in summer time! That love led him to play one year of hockey in high school before moving to Junior hockey action.
It was as a hockey player that Jeremy picked up the nickname “Billy” and it has stuck with him.
In “real life” Jeremy Creeden is a General Machinist/Tool & Die Maker. Engaged to Andrea Johnston, he now lives in Teeswater, ON., just a few clicks north of his native Wingham. When he is not on a ball field, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and golfing. It is likely that he hits a softball better than a golf ball since he describes his golf handicap as simply “high”.
Creeden admits to having been “shocked” at receiving the MVP award last August in Fargo, but he readily chooses that award as representing his career highlight. He noted that he didn’t expect such an honor since he only hit during the tournament (as a DH) and did not play a position in the field. It was not his first time to be selected the MVP of fastball action, since he has won two separate MVP awards in the Bluewater Fastball League back home.
Jeremy credits an early coach, Bob Pegg, as being the person he most models himself after, describing Pegg as “the total Charlie Hustle” type person.
Looking back over unique experiences in fastball, he cites traveling to play in both ISC Under 19 and Under 23 tournaments, praising his experiences in Frankenmuth, MI.
Pressed to identify his favorite playing venues, he quickly chose the main fields in Kimberly and Fargo where his Mercurys captured those two ISC – II Tournament of Champions titles.
So, get ready Chippewa Falls! Jeremy Creeden is just counting the days until he can step into the batter’s box.
That’s Jeremy Creeden, our July, 2005, STAR OF THE I.S.C.
By: Gordon Wise
ISC Information Officer