Completed Event: Baseball versus No. 11 seed Kansas State on May 19, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 9
Final Score
Baseball
5
vs No. 11 seed Kansas State
9
The University of Utah Athletics
Baseball Team Opens Season Friday Night
1/21/2000 12:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 21, 2000
Utah at a Glance
The Utes rounded out the 1999 season with a 22-30 record and finished 10th in the Western Athletic Conference. This year, the Utes return four starters and 13 letterwinners, while adding 15 newcomers to the roster.
Changes for the Utes
Utah has made two major changes this season: entering a new conference and playing on a new practice field.
Utah joins the Mountain West Conference this season with Air Force, Brigham Young, New Mexico, San Diego State and UNLV. The conference schedule will consist of two three-game series between each team and the MWC Championship held in Las Vegas, Nev., May 17-20.
Following the 1998 season, Ute Field, Utah's on-campus practice facility was dismantled to be used for the building of the 2002 Winter Olympic Village being built upon the University campus. Consequently, the Utes were left without a spring practice field while a new field was being built. The new Ute Field was completed in late August enabling complete team practices to commence this fall.
Coming Up
The Utah baseball team opens the 2000 season with a three-game series against Arizona State. This is the second consecutive season the Utes and the Sun Devils have opened non-conference play together. Last year, ASU claimed the series 3-0 (4-17, 0-3, 2-9) boosting their all-time series record with Utah to 16-2.
A Quick Look at ASU
In preseason polls, Arizona State is ranked No. 22 by Baseball America and No. 28 by Collegiate Baseball magazines. The Sun Devils boast a streak of 254 games without being shutout, ranking them eighth in the NCAA. Last season, ASU led the nation with a .356 batting average and 11.4 runs per game. The finished the 1999 season with a 39-21 record and a 12-12 Pac-10 conference record. The Sun Devils tied for fifth in the conference and ended the season ranked No. 30 in the USA Today/ABCA Coaches Poll.
On the Mound
The Utes return six pitchers this season including Brandon Page, Ryan Bailey and Jared Cavaness. Page, the only starting pitcher returning this year, led the Utes with a 6-5 record last season and was second on the team with 59 strikes.
From the bullpen, Bailey led the team with two saves. He made 18 appearances for a 3-3 record. He delivered 30 strikeouts and posted a 7.43 ERA. The sophomore has earned a starting slot on the Ute lineup and looks to open this weekend against Arizona State.
Cavaness, a transfer from Salt Lake Community College, also joins the Ute starting lineup. The senior was 2-1 last season making 13 appearances.
A Bright Future
Also joining the starting Ute mound staff is junior college transfer David Ebright. The junior played for Palomar Junior College where he pitched in the CIF Finals at Qualcomm Stadium. He pitched 39 consecutive scoreless innings. He pitched 98 innings overall and led the team with a 2.4 ERA. He also posted 10 wins as a sophomore.
Rounding the Bases
The Utes return four starters to the infield in Adam Castleton, Mike Goff, Jake Shortino and Rob Stuart.
Castleton premiered as Utah's top freshman last season starting 47 of the 49 games he played. He posted a .285 batting average and was second on the team with 14 doubles. The second baseman also had 57 hits, 13 home runs, 36 RBI. On the field, he had a .970 fielding percentage from 83 putouts 144 assists and only seven errors.
Goff returns for his second season in the hotbox. Last year, the junior was .290 with a team high 17 doubles. He started 48 of his 50 games and was fourth on the team with 54 hits. He also had five home runs and 24 RBI.
Shortino and Stuart once again vie for time as Utah's starting shortstop. Last season, Shortino, a transfer from Dixie College, started 28 of the 37 games he played posting a .236 batting average. He had six doubles and four home runs. As a freshman last year, Stuart started 30 of the 33 games he played. He posted a .927 fielding percentage.
Back to Basics
Junior Sam Swenson returns as Utah's starting centerfielder this season after taking a medical redshirt year. Swenson played in only eleven games in 1999 before being sidelined by a bulging disk. After undergoing back surgery and an intense period of physical therapy, he is ready to retake the field.
Injury Report
Catcher Mike Westfall will not join the Utes this weekend as he is recovering from an accident over the Christmas holiday.
Catch the Utes
Don't miss the Ute baseball team Mon., Jan. 31 at 10:05 p.m. when the highlight as the half-time show during the Utah-New Mexico basketball game.
Probable Starters C Donald Hawes, So. Josh France, Jr.1B Nate Weese, So.
2B Adam Castleton, So.
3B Mike Goff, Jr.
SS Jake Shortino, Sr. Rob Stuart, So. Tommy Maestas, Jr.
LF Jamie Hardy, Sr. Donnie Saba, Fr.
CF Sam Swenson, Jr.
RF Jed Chrisman, Jr.
P David Ebright, Jr. Jared Cavaness, Sr. Ryan Bailey, So.
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