History/Stats

First Game:	June 21, 2005
Opponent:	Ogden Raptors (LA Dodgers Affiliate)
Result:	L, 7-0
Attendance:	3,100
Starting Pitcher (Orem):	Andy Hill
Starting Pitcher (Ogden):	Mario Alvarez
First Homerun, Ever:	Russ Mitchell - Ogden Raptors - 2nd Inning off Andy Hill (6/21/2005)
First Homerun, OWLZ:	Billy Boyer - 5th inning, 6/22/2005 - off Nathan Hochgesang (7-4 victory over Ogden)
First OWLZ Victory:	June 22, 2005 7-4 vs. Ogden Raptors
First MLB Debut by an OWLZ Player:	Darren O'Day - 3/31/2008, Los Angeles Angels
Largest Crowd (to date):	6,209 - July 24, 2013 vs. Ogden Raptors
Result:	W, 3-2
Field Dimensions:	LF - 305'
	LC - 427'
	CF - 408'
	RC - 388'
	RF - 312'

With the arrival of professional baseball in Utah County in 2001, plans were in motion to build a first-class facility for community members to enjoy. With Utah Valley's recent jump to NCAA Division-I sports, the school was also in need of a baseball facility that would allow them to compete at such a high level. Talks turned to combining entities and building a park for both teams to use. The ground on the facility was broken March 23, 2004. EMA of Park City, Utah was the architect of this design-build project, and R & O Construction of Ogden, Utah was the general contractor. The facility was finished in time for the Wolverines of Utah Valley to play at home during the 2005 NCAA season.

The 2,500 seat grandstands are built close to the field, allowing Owlz fans to experience the intimacy of Minor League Baseball. Great sight lines mean no action will be missed, even when you go to get snacks and souvenirs, thanks to an open mezzanine. Baseball won't be the only beautiful sight at the park, as Mount Timpanogos and the rest of the Wasatch Range tower over the field just beyond the outfield fence.

Home of the Owlz was built with families in mind. Berm seating down the left line wraps around and continues into centerfield, allowing the whole clan to enjoy a game from the comfort of a thrown-down blanket. Little children can burn off extra energy at the Pacific States Cast Iron Kids Play Area. Fans of great food will enjoy the OWLZ BBQ Perch where gourmet hamburgers, brats, corn on the cob, and other unique food offerings await the hungriest of baseball fans. Affordable and exciting, Owlz Baseball will provide hours of excitement all summer long for Utah County.

YEAR BY YEAR RECAP

2016

Manager		Dave Stapleton
Pitching Coach		John Slusarz, Hector Astacio
Hitting Coach		Alexis Gomez, Travis Adair
Athletic Trainer		Ryan Ross
Strength and Conditioning		Tyler Gniadek
Clubhouse Manager		Matt Potts

Overall Record: 38-38 First Half: 22-16 Second Half: 16-22

2015

Manager		Dave Stapleton
Pitching Coach		John Slusarz, Hector Astacio
Hitting Coach		Buck Coats, Alexis Gomez
Athletic Trainer		Yusuke Takahashi
Strength and Conditioning		Joe Griffin
Clubhouse Manager		Casey Brailsford

Overall Record: 41-35 First Half: 24-14 Second Half: 17-21

2014

Manager		Dave Stapleton
Pitching Coach		Chris Gissell, Hector Astacio
Hitting Coach		Ryan Barba, Buck Coats
Athletic Trainer		Matt Morell
Strength and Conditioning		Aaron Butler
Clubhouse Manager		Tom DeCenso

Overall Record: 42-33 First Half: 24-14 Second Half: 18-19

For the second time in as many years the Owlz had a new manager at the helm of the club. In 2014 it was Dave Stapleton leading the charge. The Owlz jumped out to a red-hot start under their new manager, starting the season 13-4 into July. Behind hittlers like outfielder Bo Way and third baseman Zach Houchins, the Orem offense was on pace to break every major statistical record in the Pioneer League through the first month of the season. Thanks to the league's most potent offense, the Owlz clinched the first half title in Missoula, Montana with a week left in the half. With the imminent callups that come with success like that, the Owlz struggled over the secondhalf of the season, but swept the Ogden Raptors in the first round of the Pioneer League Playoffs. The Owlz then ran into the hottest team in the league, however, and fell just short of another league championship, losing the series to the Billings Mustangs 2 games to none.

2013

Manager		Bill Richardson
Pitching Coach		Chris Gissell
Hitting Coach		Brian Betancourth, Carson Vitale
Athletic Trainer		Matt Morell
Strength and Conditioning		Adam Auer
Clubhouse Manager		Tom DeCenso

Overall Record: 39-36 First Half: 20-18 Second Half: 19-18

2012

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Brian Betancourth
Athletic Trainer		Chris Wells
Strength and Conditioning		Brian Buck
Clubhouse Manager		Chuck Woodhouse

Overall Record: 35-41 First Half: 17-21 Second Half: 18-20

Orem opened the season with a 1-8 record, but recovered to win 16 of their next 29 games in the first half. The 17-21 record left the Owlz four games back of both the Ogden Raptors and Grand Junction Rockies. In the second half, the Owlz got off to a scorching start, leading the South division for almost a full month. The last couple weeks provided to be the difference, as the Owlz finished the season losing nine of their final 11 games. It ended up being the first time that the Owlz/Provo Angels had ever missed the playoffs, and the first time in 23 years that Tom Kotchman had missed the playoffs. Gabriel Perez tied an Owlz record with eight wins on the year. The record tied a mark set by Jayson Miller and Will Smith in 2008. Five Owlz players were named part of the 2012 Pioneer League All-Star team: Gabriel Perez, Joel Capote, Wade Hinkle, Michael Snyder and Wendell Soto. Capote led the league in batting average for most of the season, but finished in 5th place in the race for the batting title. Hinkle had a .338 average and led the league in games played and on-base percentage. His 15 home runs left him one shy of Julian Yan for first place in that category. Snyder hit .332 in his first pro season and led the league in doubles with 25.

2011

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Tom Evans
Athletic Trainer		Omar Uribe
Strength and Conditioning		Kenton Hill
Clubhouse Manager		Shad Stevens

Overall Record: 46-30 First Half: 22-16 Second Half: 24-14

2011 was full of milestones and records. Former Utah Ute and 1st round pick, C.J. Cron, became an immediate force, hitting .365 in his first two weeks in the lineup. He became the first Owl to hit three home runs in a game with solo shots in the 2nd and 3rd and a 2-run homer in the 5th. Taylor Lindsey and Jerod Yakubik both hit for the cycle. Lindsey, a 2010 1st-round supplemental draft pick, went 5-for-5 in the Owlz game on August 6th against the Ogden Raptors (1st inning solo home run, double in the 2nd, single in the 3rd, and triple in final at-bat). Yakubik hit for the cycle in order. Nick Maronde was the Owlz ace compiling a 5-0 record with a 2.14 ERA. The Owlz finished the sesaon with a 46-30 record, falling in three games to the Ogden Raptors in the first round of playoffs. 2011 was Tom Kotchman's milestone year with 3,000 games managed. On July 15th, 2011, Kotchman recorded his 1,678 win in his Minor Leauge coaching career.

Notable Players: Eric Cendejas, Ryan Crowley, Jett Bandy, Ryan Jones, and Daniel Vargas-Vila

Taylor Lindsey League MVP

2010

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Mike Elyward
Athletic Trainer		Mike Dart
Strength and Conditioning		Matt Hill
Clubhouse Manager		Casey Brailsford

Overall Record: 39-36 First Half: 19-19 Second Half: 20-17

The Owlz started strong in the first half of the season, picking up to be eligible for playoff contention in the second half. Although another playoff preview for the tenth consecutive year under manager Tom Kotchman, the Owlz did not advance to the Pioneer League Championship round to continue the streak from 2009. Players noted: Kole Calhoun, Kaleb Cowart, Travis Witherspoon, and Drew Heid.

2009

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Mike Elyward
Athletic Trainer		Mike Dart
Strength and Conditioning		Greg Spence
Clubhouse Manager		Brett Crane

Overall Record: 51-25 First Half: 20-18 Second Half: 31-7

In 2009 the Orem Owlz continued their Pioneer League dominance by winning their 4th title in 6 years. Despite a slow start to the season the Owlz finished strong, posting a remarkable 30-8 record in the second half of the season. Led offensively by Carlos Ramirez, Dillon Baird and Casey Hearther, the Owlz soared through the playoffs with a 4-1 record, capping off the season with a 13-10 victory over the Missoula Osprey in game 3 of the championship series.

2008

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Brent Del Chiaro
Athletic Trainer		Mike Dart
Strength and Conditioning		AJ Russel
Clubhouse Manager		Brett Crane

Overall Record: 52-23 First Half: 25-13 Second Half: 27-10

Led by Pioneer League MVP Roberto Lopez and Pitcher of the Year Jayson Miller the Owlz powered their way to a 52-23 regular season record. Orem led the league in nearly every offensive and pitching category. The Owlz defeated in-state rival Ogden 2-1 in the Divisional series before falling in the championship series 2-1 to the Great Falls Voyagers.

Lopez became the first player in franchise history to hit .400 finishing the season right on the historic mark. Luis Jimenez broke the franchise record for home runs clubbing 15 round trippers.

2007

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Francisco Matos
Athletic Trainer		Aaron Wells
Strength and Conditioning		Adam Wagner
Clubhouse Manager		James Senior

Overall Record: 37-38 First Half: 17-21 Second Half: 20-18

This marked the only season in franchise history when the club would finish below .500 during the regular season. Entering the playoffs at 37-39 Orem rode strong pitching all the way to its third Pioneer League Championship in four years. The Owlz defeated the heavily favored Idaho Falls Chukars two games to zero in the divisional round before knocking off the Great Falls White Sox in two games in the Championship Series. The team repeatedly displayed a flair for the dramatic including their championship clinching victory in 16 innings at Great Falls.

Two Owlz players were featured on the Pioneer League All-Star team including third baseman Jay Brossman and pitcher Robert Fish.

2006

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Francisco Matos
Athletic Trainer		Mike Metcalfe
Strength and Conditioning		Matt Hill
Clubhouse Manager		Marc Burton

Overall Record: 45-31 First Half: 23-15 Second Half: 22-16

The team looked to make it three in a row, with a club loaded with talent. In fact, for the first time in franchise history, the OWLZ defeated in-state rival Ogden in the season opener (since 2001, Ogden had won five straight Opening Day match-ups). The Owlz clinched the regular season pennant but the club ran into the hot Idaho Falls Chukars and lost for the first time in club history in the Division-Series Round of the playoffs.

The squad was lead by top draft picks Trevor Bell, Sean O'Sullivan, Ryan Mount and PJ Phillips.

2005

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Keith Johnson
Athletic Trainer		Aaron Wells
Strength and Conditioning		Charlie Rogers
Clubhouse Manager		Brett Crane

Overall Record: 38-38 First Half: 18-20 Second Half: 20-18

The opening season turned out fine for the Owlz, but it had an auspicious start. On June 21 players were escorted in on Harley-Davidsons before a packed house of 3,100 anxious fans. In the midst of this exciting start, however, the Owlz bats went flat, and the team dropped the opener 7-0 to the visiting rival Ogden Raptors. Things would get better as the Owlz took advantage of the friendly confines. Fans continued to pour in and wins continued to mount. The team finished the regular season with a home record of 25-13, the best in the Pioneer League. The team also set an attendance record, drawing over 81,000 fans throughout the course of the year. Nearly 2,900 fans witnessed the last home game of the year, a 6-3 OWLZ victory in Game One of the 2005 Pioneer League Championship Series against the favored Helena Brewers. The team would go on to sweep the Brewers for the franchise's second straight PL Championship.

Key players from the team include Mark Trumbo, Hainley Statia and Nick Adenhart.

2004

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Kevin Ham
Athletic Trainer		Aaron Wells
Strength and Conditioning		Gabe Staub
Clubhouse Manager		Brett Crane

Overall Record: 44-32 First Half: 20-18 Second Half: 24-14

In 2004, the Angels posted the league's best regular season record (44-32) and captured division titles in both halves of the season for the third time in four years. MVP shortstop Sean Rodriguez (.338/.486/.569) and designated hitter Andrew Toussaint (.289/.411/.557) were All-Stars, as was reliever Mitchell Arnold (2-0, 2.48, 41 K, 12 H in 33 IP), who led the league with 14 saves. In the postseason, they defeated the Idaho Falls Chukars. before sweeping Billings to finally capture their first (and only) league crown. Kotchman was named Manager of the Year in the league. After the season, the Angels relocated to a new ballpark and became known as the Orem Owlz. (source: www.baseball-reference.com)

2003

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Kevin Ham
Athletic Trainer		Aaron Wells
Strength and Conditioning		Jay Wilkin
Clubhouse Manager		Jason Smith-Asst. Brett Crane

Overall Record: 54-22 First Half: 24-14 Second Half: 30-8

Provo improved in 2003, again leading the league in victories. Their overall record was 54-22, and they again won division titles in both halves of the season. Outfielder Warner Madrigal hit .369/.394/.581 and led the circuit in runs (75), total bases (162), extra-base hits (39), doubles (28) and hits (103), and catcher Robert Wilson had a league-leading 62 RBIs. Pitcher Daniel Davidson (8-2, 1.64) led the league in ERA, and Abel Moreno (10-0, 2.38) paced the circuit in wins and was third in ERA. Moreno and Madrigal made the All-Star team. 2B Howie Kendrick. (source: www.baseball-reference.com)

2002

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		James Rowson
Athletic Trainer		Jeff Hurst
Strength and Conditioning		Clayton Wilson
Clubhouse Manager		Jason Smith

Overall Record: 38-38 First Half: 21-17 Second Half: 17-21

In 2002 the Angels were a .500 club (38-38), but still won the first half title. Second baseman Alberto Callaspo was the team's star, hitting .338/.374/.488 and leading the league in hits (101), triples (10) and runs (70). Catcher Alex Dvorsky (.321/.453/.500) also made the All-Star team. In the playoffs that year, the Angels defeated the Ogden Raptors before falling to the Great Falls Dodgers. (source: www.baseball-reference.com)

2001

Manager		Tom Kotchman
Pitching Coach		Zeke Zimmerman
Hitting Coach		Todd Claus
Athletic Trainer		Armando Rivas
Clubhouse Manager		Mick Hill/Steve Bushman

Overall Record: 53-23 First Half: 29-9 Second Half: 24-14

The 2001 Angels posted a league-best 53-23 record and captured the Southern Division title in both halves of the season. The team was powered by their dominant pitching staff: Pedro Liriano (11-2, 2.78) led the league in wins; Jake Woods (4-3, 5.29) paced the circuit with 84 strikeouts; and Jason Dennis posted a league-best 2.05 ERA; he was 5-0. Catcher Al Corbeil (.359/.463/.525), shortstop Casey Smith (.321/.411/.386), and outfielder Sam Swenson (.351/.438/.631, league leader in slugging) were also All-Stars. In the playoffs, the Angels swept the Casper Rockies before being swept themselves by the Billings Mustangs in the championship. (source: www.baseball-reference.com)