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 Season One Week Away
2/15/2008 12:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 15, 2008
The 2008 University of Utah baseball roster may have 16 new names on it, but the Utes don't lack the talent or experience they need to be contenders.
"Our team is a nice mix of younger players and veterans who can help our youth get over the hump," remarked head coach Bill Kinneberg. "So we have a healthy blend of youth and experience to make this a good team.
"Our younger players like Michael Beltran, DC Legg, and Scott Cashman have shown a lot of improvement, accepting and enhancing their roles on this team."
To balance out the youth on the team, fielders like Corey Shimada, Nate Burnham, and the able corps of catchers will have to provide the leadership the team needs to succeed. But, make no mistake. Kinneberg is quick to point out that the bevy of talent and experience resides where it's most important.
"Our middle is our strength this season, and that's where we want to be strongest," said Kinneberg. "It starts with our catchers, and they're as good as they have ever been in my time here."
Anchoring the defense from behind the plate are veterans Jesse Shriner and Cody Guymon.
"All of our catchers are fundamentally sound," said Kinneberg. "Shriner, Guymon and (freshman) Devin Walker will all catch at some point for us, and they can play other positions, too, if needed. Catcher is our deepest position on the team. All three of them are solid performers behind the plate."
An all-conference second baseman and the team's top returning hitter, Corey Shimada, will patrol the middle infield at second base. He will split the real estate with rookie shortstop Michael Beltran.
"Shimada has the chance to be a marquee player," Kinneberg noted. "He's improved defensively, and we anticipate that he will continue to produce for us at the plate.
"Beltran's going to be a great player for us when he's done here," said the veteran head coach. "Freshmen are always up-and-down, but we'll live with that because he's a talented player. He's a good shortstop and he'll be there for years to come."
Rounding out the middle is veteran center fielder Nate Burnham. He has great range in the outfield, and he's coming off of a .326 season at the plate. So, he will be a spark on offense as well.
"Burnham will anchor the outfield for us," Kinneberg said. "He's one of the better outfielders in the league and he'll be our leadoff hitter. He's fast, and he's aggressive on the base paths."
While the team enters the 2008 campaign with talent, fostering and harvesting that talent has been one of the objectives. Kinneberg is confident the team is well on its way.
"Our work ethic, top-to-bottom, has been a bright spot this season," said Kinneberg heading into the campaign. "The effort has been there on the field, in the weight room, and with our conditioning. All of it will pay dividends for us in the long run."
THE PITCHERS
A balance of eight returning hurlers and six new pitchers makes up Utah's 2008 staff.
"Overall, I'm excited about the depth and quality we have on the mound," said Kinneberg. "We have guys who can fill important roles, and a lot of those roles were established in the fall."
Utah's top returning hurler is Stephen Fife. Last year, the right-hander earned a starting role, and he went 6-2 with a 4.43 earned-run average. His wins and ERA lead all returning Utah hurlers in 2008.
John James, a reliever in 2007, showed a lot development as a reliever last year. He has since earned a starting role and will be counted upon for five or six solid innings per weekend.
The projected No. 3 starter will be transfer Brian Budrow. A member of the national championship Oregon State teams, Boudreaux brings confidence to the mound. He'll be competitive and will challenge opposing batters.
Freshman Andrew Wilding has shown a lot of potential with improved strength. He's showed a dominating aspect on the mound, but needs to gain more consistency.
Closing duties will fall upon junior college transfer Robert Chimpky. A strikeout pitcher, Chimpky is familiar with his role, and he knows how to finish a game.
Middle relievers for the Utes this year will be Bennett Askew, Bryn Card, Kerr Foster, Greg Krause and Geoff Wolfgramm. Foster has potential to challenge for a staring role. Shriner has tinkered on the mound in the past, and could also be a possible hurler if needed this season.
"We have four left-handed matchups," Kinneberg points out. "We've never had that before. And, we have 14 guys who can get us through the weekend in a positive fashion."
INFIELDERS
The infield will be young, with only one returner with Division I college experience.
Shimada will be the leader in the infield at second. He'll have a pair of freshman on the left side of the field (either Legg or Cashman at third, and Beltran at short), and a newcomer in Austin Jones at first.
Jones brings talent to the right side, having been a standout player at Bossier Parish in the junior college ranks.
"It's a concern that we have three newcomers manning the infield," said Kinneberg. "But, all three of them had solid Falls and all of them have progressed and acclimated to the Division I college game."
OUTFIELDERS
Three returners will patrol the vast real estate in the outfield. Anchored by Burnham in center, he'll be flanked by Dustin Hennis and Fred Ferguson.
Hennis showed a tremendous amount of improvement last fall, and if he's not in the outfield, his bat will remain in the lineup. A hard-working, passionate player, Ferguson will also figure in the mix.
SCHEDULE
College baseball instituted a uniform start date, so this year's schedule will begin with a four-game slate at San Jose State Feb. 22.
That trip begins a season-opening 17-game road swing. After playing the Spartans, a four-game series at UC Davis (Feb. 26 - March 2) and a three-game slate at Southern Utah (March 6-8) are on hand.
The toughest part of the non-conference schedule will be the Pepsi Johnny Quick Tournament (March 10-15) in Fresno, Calif. There, Utah will battle Portland, Gonzaga, New Mexico State, Indiana and host Fresno State.
"The first 17 games of the season will come at the this team fast," said Kinneberg. "We play 17 games in the first three weeks of ball. We'll have to make the adjustments to be ready for that."
Utah jumps into league play after the Fresno State trip. First home games of the year, and will be a three-game set with San Diego State beginning on March 20. Utah will also host Air Force (March 28-30), UNLV (April 25-27) and Brigham Young (May 15-17).
Road dates include conference series at SDSU (April 11-13), New Mexico (April 18-20), TCU (May 2-4) and AFA (May 9-11).
"TCU is a proven commodity," said Kinneberg. "They've won the league and tournament championships. They're the team to beat.
"But, we've made strides. We are getting closer to the top. We look to continue that trend. Being the third seed (MWC Tournament) last year was a tremendous accomplishment. But we didn't take advantage of it."
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