The Bluejays have done it all since I've started covering them. They've had offensive slugfests mixed in with brilliant pitching performances. They've had games that were over by the first inning, and one incredible game with Wichita State that ended in the 12th, giving them the MVC title in what still has been the game of the year for my money.

I like Creighton's team, especially their coach. Ed Servais is the right kind of coach who does things the right way. His teams play hard, and win with defense and fielding. They scrap for everything they can get, and they never stop playing until the last pitch is thrown. They're a lot of fun to watch.

Servais, as always, deferred credit to the victors in defeat.

"We didn't hit well enough or field well enough to beat a team like Arkansas," Servais said. "Nick Schmidt is just a great pitcher. We needed to keep from making errors and needed to hit up less on Schmidt's fastball to get a chance."

Creighton will lose some players for next year. They'll likely lose Venditte to the draft. They'll lose Andrew Small, Chris Gradoville, Andy Masten, Chad Ogden and a slew of others. But make no mistake, the Jays will be back next year. It's a credit to Servais, who believes that no matter who you play, you're in a game if you handle the things you can: defense and fielding.

When the conference ended, I walked up to Coach Servais and told him what a pleasure it was to have watched his team the last two weeks.

"You betcha," Servais said, shaking my hand. "You betcha."

And thanks to Creighton for giving me one heck of a baseball experience.