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Show BaseballUtah's conference baseball champs loomed strong to repeat as the team that sailed through conference competition and lost out only in the NCAA regional playoffs in 1953. Slugging their way to 10 conference wins against six losses last year, the baseballers knocked off New Mexico in the final playoffs by scores of 9-4 and 20-14. The 1953 NCAA playoffs against Colorado State saw the Utes grab a close 6-5 win in the opener, only to drop the last two frays 8-5 and 4-0.But the 1954 Redskin diamond version lacked one thing-pitchers. Gone were hurlers Ray Andrus, Vic Stuckenschneider, and Basil Williams, and with them much of the mound strength. Such returning sluggers as Cal Drecksel, Dale Bain, Paul Cook, and Don Geis gave the Utes power and almost a sharp infield, but Neil Astle, Gary Hunt, Doug Furlong and Gary Hoover were the only pitchers to return. Newcomers Lou Mele, Ted Chenoweth, Pete Dow, and Gary Cook also added playing ability and hustle.With only a week of outdoor practice, Coach Pres Summerhays shipped his diamond outfit to Nevada and Arizona for their inaugural. Opening with a close 6-5 squeeze win over Luke AF base, they met a powerful Arizona squad that walloped them in three of four games. Utah managed to salvage a 12-4 win on Ted Chenoweth's pitching. Finally, Gary Hunt hurled an 8-1 victory over Arizona State at Tempe.Conference play was another story. A 15-4 win over Montana was followed by a 15-14 loss the next day. The Utes also split a doubleheader with BYU, taking a 5-4 win on Gary Hoover's chucking but losing a 7-1 tilt. Cal Drecksel, Lou Mele, Pete Dow, and Mickey Culleton were the big sticks, all batting over .400 in the opening battles. But with coach Summerhays still shifting to find an effective mound combination, baseball at Uteville continued a firmly grounded tradition in the national sport.Lou MeleSecond BaseDale BainThird Base172 |
