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
2002 Season Outlook
1/10/2002 12:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 10, 2002
The upcoming season should be an exciting one for the Utah baseball program. "This is the most balanced and talented team--offensively and defensively--I've coached in my six years at the U.," boasts head coach Tim Esmay. "We can throw a number of lineups into play, and none of them will be weaker than the other because of the amount of depth we have."
The Utes finished last year's campaign with a 27-29 overall record and placed third in the Mountain West Conference after going 14-16. Utah ranked second in the MWC in batting average (.314) and first in slugging percentage (.529). Six Utes garnered all-conference honors. Chris Shelton was named MWC Player of the Year and Mike Westfall earned the MWC Freshman of the Year award.
Despite the losses of Shelton and Sam Swenson, Utah's career hits leader, Esmay is optimistic the Ute offense will remain powerful. The Utes return six starters to the lineup, including the "W" punch of Westfall and Nate Weese. Brit Pannier, a 2000 all-conference honoree, also returns for the Utes.
The Utes will have to reload on the mound after losing eight pitchers from last season. Of the five arms that return, Jason Wylie and Mitch Maio are expected to be the leaders of a young but talented staff. "We are more experienced at the plate than we are on the mound," admits Esmay. "But we have a tremendous amount of talent in our veteran pitchers and our newcomers."
Below is a position by position breakdown of the 2002 Utes.
PITCHERS
Righthander Jason Wylie will be the Utes' go-to guy this season. "Jason has the chance to be a top pitcher in the conference and the country," states Esmay. "He has the best stuff on our pitching staff and the capability to dominate a game." Last season Wylie went 5-3 and struck out 46 batters in 58 innings. The junior had the lowest ERA (5.74) of the starters and is expected to be the Utes' Friday starter.
Senior Mitch Maio primarily worked the late innings as a closer last season, however, the coaching staff will experiment with using him as a starter in 2002. "Mitch was one of the best closers in the conference last season," touts Esmay. "We need to see how things develop, and if he will be throwing six or two innings for us." Maio finished with a 2-2 record, three saves and a 3.26 ERA, the lowest on the team.
Seniors Ryan Reisbeck and Cheyenne Rushton joined the Utes last season after playing for Salt Lake Community College. Rushton made nine appearances and recorded 11 strikeouts, while Reisbeck made two appearances. Sophomore Sean Overholt is primed for a breakout season after appearing in nine games a year ago. That trio of righties is being looked to as the keys for Utah's success on the mound. "Our coaching staff is excited because of the excellent fall these three had," says Esmay.
The "Dan Connection" of Dan Owen and Dan Simonsen are ready to demand innings on the mound. Both players redshirted the 2001 season, but will be looked to as situational pitchers this season.
Esmay believes the incoming freshmen possess the best pitches and best arms he has ever recruited. Brady Martinez, Doug Mackay, Clay Westmoreland and Jared Snyder comprise the class. Snyder, from Alta High School in Sandy, Utah, is vying for time behind the plate and on the mound. "It's tough with Jared because he's a good catcher, but he's also throwing around 94 miles per hour. He has the best arm on the team," admits Esmay.
Martinez allowed only one earned run and posted a 0.17 ERA during his senior season at Carbon High School in Price, Utah. "All of these guys should see a considerable amount of innings," tells Esmay. "The determining factor on where they fit in for conference games will be determined by how well they adjust to Division I play in the early part of the season."
CATCHERS
Senior Donald Hawes will direct the pitching staff and defense. "Donald is another coach on the field," says Esmay. Hawes has seen significant playing time since his freshman season and, therefore, is familiar with the pitchers. Last season Hawes split time with Shelton at catcher and designated hitter. Hawes drove in 26 runs while hitting .258.
The freshman Snyder is expected to see some time behind the plate. "Jared has the potential to be a good defensive catcher," says Esmay. Trevor Jacobson, a transfer from Salt Lake Community College, was one of the surprises during fall ball. He will vie for innings with Snyder.
INFIELDERS
The coaching staff is confident they possess the best corners in the conference, both offensively and defensively. Third baseman Mike Westfall was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team in addition to earning league freshman of the year recognition in 2001. Westfall hit .341 and drove home 50 runs. His 77 hits included 17 doubles and nine home runs.
First baseman Nate Weese hopes to make his senior campaign his best yet. Last season Weese led the team in at bats (250) and posted a .304 batting average with 13 home runs and 65 RBI. Weese has played regularly at first base since he joined the Utes as a freshman and will be looked to as a team leader this season.
Senior Adam Castleton is the anchor and captain of the infield as the second baseman. Castleton has also played regularly since his freshman season and is the prime example of a veteran infielder. "Adam brings a calming influence to the team," boasts Esmay. "Nothing surprises him in the infield."
One thing is for sure at the shortstop position: a freshman will complete the double play punch with Castleton. Tanner Wootan and Brett Baldwin will carry their heated battle from the fall into the start of the season. Wooton, out of Mountain View High School in Mesa, Ariz., was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 43rd round last June and was a member of the all-state team.
Baldwin was a USA Today honorable mention All-American after his stellar senior season at West Jordan High School (Utah). He broke the state single-season record with 17 doubles. "These two players are equal offensively and defensively," says Esmay. "They are two of the most talented players we've ever had in the program."
Transfers Jake Jordison, Brandon Biesinger, Jared Pena and Corey Hansen will also battle for playing time at the infield positions. Jordison was a juco All-American last season after leading the Scenic West Conference in home runs (11) while at Dixie State College. He will be used primarily as the designated hitter, but will also provide relief at first base.
According to Esmay, Biesinger had one of the better fall outings on the team. The Salt Lake Community College transfer will see time right away because of his offensive abilities and will back up third base. Pena, also from SLCC, provides stability as a backup second baseman. Hansen, a transfer from Hawai'i Pacific, is considered the best utility player on the team. He can play at first, third or in the outfield.
OUTFIELDERS
Coach Esmay faces perhaps his toughest decision in determining who plays in the outfield. The Utes return a number of veterans, as well as an up-and-coming freshman. Senior Brit Pannier posted a .321 batting average with 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 2001. He was an all-MWC selection in 2000. Donnie Saba led the team with 11 stolen bases and six triples last season. The junior also had nine home runs and a .317 batting average. Both Pannier and Saba were regular starters in the Utes' outfield last season.
Senior Jed Chrisman received a medical hardship after sitting out last season with a leg injury. In 2000, Chrisman batted at a .327 clip with 16 doubles and nine home runs. Junior Mike Basham played in 24 games for the Utes last season. Basham should be a threat on the bases this season, running the 30-yard sprint in a team-best time of 3.78 seconds.
Matt Ciaramella was named a 2001 high school All-American after leading the state of Utah with a .628 average, 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBI. The Salt Lake native played at Skyline High School.
T.R. Gourley returns to the U. after serving a two-year LDS Church mission. Gourley played in four games as a freshman in 1999.
OVERALL
"We're going to be a very good team if we can mix our veterans with our newcomers," says Esmay. "We have talent returning for us and fresh talent at the same time. Our freshmen will have to step it up early and show they can play at the Division I level. We also need our returnees to have great performances."
Utah begins the 2002 season with 18 straight road games. After opening against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo on Jan. 25, the Utes will face Pac-10 powerhouses in Arizona and Washington during their stretch of early nonconference games. Last season, Utah pulled off one the biggest upsets in the history of the program by beating then-No. 7 Nebraska in Albuquerque, N.M.
The team kicks off the conference schedule on March 15 at New Mexico. "This conference is a tough one and anyone can win on any given day," admits Esmay. "We need to work on our consistency and maintain a higher level of play throughout conference play. This team is very talented and capable of many great things, but we must be consistent."
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