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
2004 Baseball Season Outlook
1/27/2004 12:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 27, 2004
With 16 newcomers, the 2003 Utah baseball team suffered through frustrating growing pains, finishing the season 24-32 overall and 10-20 in the Mountain West Conference, good for fifth place in the six-team league. With the addition of a new pitching coach and the return of six of eight starting position players, Head Coach Tim Esmay is extremely optimistic about the possibilities for the Utes in 2004.
"We have much more experience both on and off the mound this season," he claims. "We've had enough guys go through the fire - experience the good and the bad. We all know that we're better now because we've been through both."
Esmay and the Utes have some pretty lofty goals for the season, including winning both the conference regular season and MWC Tournament, and winning 40 or more games. "These goals are realistic because of the combination of our experienced returners and a talented group of newcomers that we've added," he says.
Leading the position players will be seniors Jared Pena and Eric Chevalier, and junior Matt Ciaramella, all three of whom enjoyed success last year. In addition, the Ute pitching staff returns all three of its regular starters from a year ago - Doug Mackay, Jason Price and Clay Westmoreland.
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2004 Utes.
Pitchers
Bryan Conger, who has extensive coaching experience at the Division II and junior college levels, joined the Utes in the off-season and looks to turn around a pitching staff that posted a combined ERA of 6.20 last season. At his last school, Conger's pitching staff set school records for ERA, strikeouts, saves and appearances, and Esmay hopes Conger can have similar results here.
"Bryan has proven he's a winner everywhere he's been," Esmay notes. "His experience and success definitely set him apart. We're very excited to bring him into the program."
Conger will have plenty to work with as Utah returns Mackay, Price and Westmoreland. Mackay, who will be the Friday starter, led the team in strikeouts (56) last season. "Doug has established himself as the catalyst of the pitching staff," Esmay says. "We're definitely looking for him to start each weekend out on a positive for us. He is the leader of the pitching staff."
Price, the projected Saturday starter, posted the second-lowest opponent batting average (.285) on last year's team. "Jason had a good freshman year and an outstanding fall," Esmay notes. "It's nice to have a quality lefty in the rotation and he's already pitched in high pressure, big-time games and proven he's a winner."
 Doug Mackay led the team in strikeouts last season.  | |
The Sunday starter will likely be freshman Eric Schaler, who went 7-0 with a 1.54 ERA last year as a senior in high school and was drafted in the 48th round by the Yankees. "Eric is an unproven freshman with lots of talent," Esmay says. "He matured faster than anticipated and we're excited to see what he's capable of doing."
Westmoreland, a two-time MWC Pitcher of the Week in 2003, has been moved out of the starting lineup to a new role as a closer. Esmay hopes Westmoreland will address the loss to an LDS mission of Brady Martinez, Utah's primary closer and a second-team all-conference pick last year. "The decision was made to use Clay's abilities in more than one game each weekend," Esmay notes. "Our hope is that when the eighth inning rolls around, the game is over when we give the ball to Clay."
In addition, Esmay says that the other pitchers each have defined roles going into the season. "We've pieced together a staff that pitches to particular situations," he says. "Every pitcher on our team will be a factor and will get innings."
Catchers
Behind the plate, Utah returns senior Nate Schlieman, who saw time as a backup last season and appears to have battled through back problems. "Nate is the leader of the defense," Esmay says. "It's nice to know that he'll be counted on to be in the lineup after coming off an injury."
Sharing the starting role with Schlieman will be junior Trevor Eastman, a transfer from Salt Lake Community College. Eastman was a second-team all-region pick last year and ranked second on the team with a .328 batting average. "Trevor should continue the long line of tradition established at Utah as a very good hitting catcher," Esmay claims. "We're looking for a big year for him."
In addition, Shane Miles, a freshman from Carbondale, Kan., who posted a .427 batting average in high school, will also see time. "Shane is a talented freshman who has a chance to learn from the other two."
Infield
Pena, a first-team all-conference second baseman last season, will anchor the Ute infield. Also returning are third baseman Cort Wilson, who was named to the MWC Championship all-tournament team, sophomore shortstop Ryan Khoury, who started 46 games last year, and senior first baseman Mike Westfall, a two-time all-conference pick. "We have a very mature, veteran infield," Esmay notes. "Our defense should be the strength of our team."
The Utes also have four players that will be used in backup roles in the infield. Leading the group is freshman Jay Brossman, who was a three-time first-team all-league shortstop in high school. Brossman will play shortstop, second base and third base. "Jay is one of the most talented freshmen ever in our program," Esmay claims. "He will be our utility guy."
Clayne Garrett, who posted a .316 batting average in two seasons at Dixie State, will see time at first base, third base and designated hitter. "Clayne is a lefthander with a very good offensive bat," Esmay says.
 Matt Ciaramella is a two-time all-MWC outfielder. | |
Jake Waldram, who redshirted last season, will be used at first base, as a designated hitter and in certain situations. "Jake was the biggest surprise of the fall," Esmay notes. "He has proven to be a top-quality Division I hitter."
Rounding out the group is Mike Mitchell, a walk-on who will back up Pena at second base. "Mike is a quality walk-on," Esmay claims.
Outfield
The Ute outfield is loaded with talent. "This is the most talented outfield as a group that we've had since I've been here," Esmay says.
Ciaramella, a two-time all-MWC outfielder and Chevalier, who led the Utes in batting average and didn't commit any errors last season, will lead the way.
One of four newcomers - junior transfers Tyson Olson, TJ Floyd and Tyler Kay, or freshman John Welsh - will fill the third spot. Olson was a two-time all-conference pick at Dixie Junior College, while Floyd started 51 games last year at Utah Valley State.
Kay was named team MVP and second-team all-region at Salt Lake Community College, and Welsh was a first-team all-state pick by the Deseret News in 2003 after hitting .458.
"Those four are all fighting for the left field spot and for quality overall backups," Esmay explains. "There's a good chance that whoever's not playing left field will be our DH."
Overall
With the combination of experience, depth and new blood, Esmay is more excited about this season than any in recent years. "We have all the ingredients for success and I really think we're going to be able to put it all together this year," he explains. "This year is going to be Utah baseball like you've never seen it before."
Players Mentioned
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