This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Oxford, Miss. • In February, when winter snows kept Utah baseball harbored indoors, senior second baseman Kody Davis talked to reporters about what was going to make this year different from the previous four.
He cited the competitiveness he saw in practices, the experience Utah returned in its lineup, how hard the Utes had worked in the offseason.
"This group of guys, I've never been around anything like it," he said. "It's a real different feeling around here. It's ridiculous."
He sensed something unexpected was on its way. It took longer for others to catch on.
When Utah started winning Pac-12 series, the hope started growing into belief, even as many waited for a collapse. After losing a series to the Utes in Eugene, Oregon coach George Horton told The Oregonian that Utah was "probably not going to be a contender at the end."
But when the end came, the Utes (26-29) were alone at the top of the league.
Whether it was experience, good play, luck or some combination of the three, Utah's baseball program didn't just get over the hump — it became relevant.
In winning the first Pac-12 championship in a men's sport for the university, the Utes captured the essence of a Cinderella story. It resonated in national college baseball media: Baseball America said Utah's rise was "much to the consternation of the rest of the nation."
But it also drew local support in a town where college baseball is far down the totem pole. In Utah's opening home series against Arizona in April, which it swept, fewer than 1,500 fans attended each game at Smith's Ballpark. In the final home series against Washington to clinch the Pac-12, the Utes drew 1,990 on Friday, 4,241 on Saturday and 6,071 on Sunday.
Locals were eager to support a winner in the end, which meant as much to the Utes as anything.
"These people going nuts, it's just awesome," sophomore pitcher Josh Lapiana said last week. "We just stuck to our plan, kept it with and never gave up."
The Utes ended the year with 19 Pac-12 wins, eight Pac-12 series wins and a top-10 win against Ole Miss. But there's an inherent challenge with reaching success: maintaining it.
Coach Bill Kinneberg has the tough task of replacing four starting infielders, as well as a strong designated hitter and an experienced pitcher. Utah may get more attrition in the upcoming MLB draft (Thursday-Saturday) that could take away some valuable pitching arms.
But other areas are intact: Kinneberg brings back his starting outfield and first baseman, and some positions — such as catcher — have pretty solid players coming in. Ace Jayson Rose has at least one more year in the program, and others may stay as well.
Utah definitely has more attention and belief than it started the year with. Expectations will be higher next February, but they also might help Utah catch on more quickly. With an on-campus baseball stadium in the planning stages, the program can use all the momentum it can get.
Still, without looking too far ahead, the achievements of the 2016 will live on. Kinneberg said it will become more real when the team can hang a Pac-12 championship banner, or get conference title rings. That's when things really will set in.
Even Sunday as the Utes walked off of Swayze Field in Mississippi, they didn't look downcast. A small crowd of supporters clapped after the season-ending loss, with some shouting, "We're so proud of you."
They looked proud as well.
"Icing on the cake right there," senior shortstop Cody Scaggari said, after hitting a home run in his last at-bat. "I'll never forget that at-bat, but it goes deeper than that. It was really about this team."
Twitter: @kylegoon