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
2011 Season Preview: Pitchers and Catchers
2/16/2011 12:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2011
Today is part two of Utah's 2011 season preview featuring the catchers and pitchers. For part one featuring the infielders and outfielders, please click here.
Catchers
Catcher will be one of the strongest and most experienced positions on the field for Utah this year.
C.J. Cron will lead things behind the plate for the third-straight season, in addition to playing first base. Cron earned first-team All-America honors last season from the NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball newspaper and Ping!Baseball and has already received several preseason All-America accolades. Cron was also the NCBWA's District VIII Player of the Year, the MWC Player of the Year and named as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, awarded to the top player in collegiate baseball.
Cron led the nation last year with 1.65 RBI per game. He also ranked in the top 10 nationally in slugging percentage (fifth, .817) and home runs per game (eighth, 0.41).
Jo Jo Sharrar rotated in the catcher position with Cron last year, starting 30 games for the Utes along with nine at designated hitter. He hit .316 on the season.
Returning to the team after a two-year LDS mission is 2008 all-conference designated hitter Cody Guymon. Guymon led the Mountain West Conference with a .383 batting average in 2008, including 15 doubles. In addition to catcher and designated hitter, he may also see time at first base.
Pitchers
The Utes lose significant experience on the mound with the graduations of starting pitchers Jordan Whatcott, Bryn Card and Andrew Wilding, but a group of younger pitchers will look to build on their experience from last season to step into their shoes.
Anton led Utah with seven wins last year, earning second-team all-conference honors. He had a 5.13 ERA with 64 strikeouts. The senior only allowed three home runs, which led the league.
"Anton has been through the battles in the league along with Zach Adams, Brock Duke and Stephen Streich," Kinneberg said. "We have some maturity and depth on the mound that we probably haven't had in the past. A healthy Joe Pond will make a big difference in the pitching staff. Tyler Wagner will just be pitching this year which has made a big difference in his approach to the game and his ability on the mound."
Duke, Adams and Wagner, all freshman last year, gained valuable experience last season and the Utes will look for them to step into bigger roles. Duke led Utah with four saves and a team-high 21 appearances. He had 32 strikeouts. Adams was 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA, including two saves and 41 strikeouts. Wagner made a strong impact late in the year. He had three saves and a 2.11 ERA, striking out 23. He also played some in the infield, getting hits on five of his 12 at-bats.
Pond sat out last season following Tommy John surgery after playing in 15 games as a freshman. He had a 1-1 record with 20 strikeouts in 2009.
Streich enters his senior year as one of Utah's most consistent relievers. He closed out 13 games for the Utes last year, finishing with a 4-3 record, one save and a 5.45 ERA. Senior Tyler Andersen (14 appearances, 3.71 ERA) will also be relied on in relief.
 Stephen Streich has been one of Utah's most consistent relievers.  | |
Incoming pitchers who Kinneberg hopes can contribute immediately are freshmen Luke West, Josh Chapman and Ben Mordini as well as junior transfer Kesley Kondo. West led Juan Diego to the 2010 Utah state championship. He was 7-2 with a 2.00 ERA as a senior. Chapman earned all-region honors at Saguaro (Ariz.), leading the team to a state championship. Mordini had a 6-1 record his senior season at Cherry Creek High School (Colo.) with 80 strikeouts. He was drafted in the 41st round last year. Kondo is an all-conference player out of West Los Angeles College.
"Mordini, West and Chapman are all really good freshmen pitchers who will see a lot of action in key roles for us," Kinneberg said. "All three have done a great job in the fall and are progressing nicely. Kondo also adds some depth and variety to our staff."
Players Mentioned
P
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
P/INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
P
/ BaseballESPN+ Feature | Utah Baseball's Seth Graham-Pippin & Jet Gilliam
Friday, May 15
ESPN+ Feature | Behind Game Day: Grass & Turf
Tuesday, May 12
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Baseball's Luke Jacobs
Wednesday, April 29
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Baseball's Cal Miller
Friday, April 24