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Oregon State kicks off the Pac-12 season with a trip to Salt Lake City to take on a Utah team that is having a fun start to the year. The Utes have been a perennial bottom-feeder since joining the Pac-12, finishing 10th or 11th in 9 of 12 seasons, including the last three. Not much else was expected going into this year, both the Pac-12 coaches and D1 Baseball predicted more of the same, picking Utah to finish 10th in 2024. Head coach Gary Henderson’s squad have shrugged off that history so far this year, running out to an 11-4 start. That has not eliminated questions about Utah’s ability to contend in the Pac-12 (their three best wins against UC San Diego and two against Washington State were all by 1 run), but all of their games have been on the road so far this year, and it is certainly better to be 11-4 than 4-11.

This weekend will tell us a lot about Utah and how much they have improved on pre-season expectations. Two big questions will be whether their lineup can continue to provide solid production against Pac-12 pitching and if the bullpen can continue to be a shutdown factor and keep them in those one-run games.

The weather should be just fine in Salt Lake City for this series, with highs in the low 50s and winds around 10 mph. Utah will carry a live stream for the Saturday and Sunday games, with the Beaver Radio Network carrying audio for all three.

NOTE: The matchup overviews starting this week will include both NCAA RPI (Rating Percentage Index) and Boyd’s World ISR (Iterative Strength Rating). Both are mathematical attempts to rank all college baseball teams, and RPI in particular is heavily weighted when it comes to NCAA tournament selections and seeding. You can read more about RPI here, and ISR here. The caveat is that both are unstable metrics at the beginning of the year and will shift around through the first few weeks of conference play. But with a month of baseball under our belts, the ratings are not meaningless and give a good indication of how a team has performed so far.

Offense

The Beaver offense is the class of the Pac-12 even without the services of multiple impact players. Thier 10.08 runs per game is more than a run clear of second place Oregon and that includes 8 games in the cool damp confines of spring Goss Stadium. OSU should welcome back Trent Caraway to the lineup and Micah McDowell seems to be set to at least be a regular DH if not a complete return to his regular CF location. It would also not be surprising to see Tyce Peterson make a return to the lineup on Saturday. He has been absent since February 25th, partially due to the large collection of right-handed starters the Beavers have faced since then.

Utah has scored runs at a decent clip, their 6.55 runs per game is right around average for the Pac-12. Thier underlying numbers have not been as favorable, highlighted by a .763 OPS that is 9th in the Pac-12. They are free swingers that don't strike out or walk much and aren’t afraid to run on the basepaths. Senior CF Kai Roberts is the anchor of the lineup. He has been a regular starter since his freshman year and leads the Utes in home runs (4) and doubles (7) this year and is tied for the lead in stolen bases (6). Junior 1B Drake Digiorno (.293/.408/.512) and LF Karson Bodily (.313/.343/.563) have been solid middle of the order bats as well. The bottom of the lineup has struggled, which Beaver pitching will need to take advantage of.

Advantage: Oregon State

NOTE: Quality Hitters in the table are defined as players that are above the 75th percentile in plate appearances (currently 57) and OPS (currently 1.054). It is intended to capture hitters that are both regulars in the lineup and are producing at a level that would be an impact on any team. The total number is an indication of how deep a lineup is. For most teams this is 1-2 hitters, although some lineups have up to 6 quality hitters in the lineup.

Starting Pitching

It sounds like Aiden May will not return this weekend (although Mitch Canham held out next week as a possibility). The Beavers will keep the same rotation structure they have the last two weekends, keeping Jacob Kmatz and Eric Segura in their Saturday and Sunday roles. The change will be lefty Nelson Keljo stepping into the weekend starting role in place of Jaren Hunter, who has struggled so far this year.

Keljo made his first start of the year last Thursday after making three relief appearances earlier in the year. The sophomore has been more effective than Hunter this year and has been extended somewhat in all four of his outings, facing 8 or more hitters in each and throwing over 50 pitches in his last two appearances including the start.

After that the Beavers have the advantage on both Saturday and Sunday. That’s not to diminish Utah’s rotation, but the combination of results (ERA), underlying numbers (FIP, K-BB%) and competition favor the Beavs.

Advantage: Oregon State

NOTE: The stats here are for a player’s starts alone, so for example Nelson Keljo’s relief appearances are not included here. GS stands for Game Score, a measure of a pitcher's performance in a start that covers how deep they pitch, runs they give up, as well as hits, strikeouts, walks and more. You can read more about how it is calculated here. The GS +/- metric is how much above or below the team average start a player has performed.

Bullpen

Keljo making the start leaves Tyler Mejia as the only left-handed pitcher in the OSU bullpen. That is something to watch out for with Jackson and other Utah regulars such as SS Core Jackson hit from the left side. For the entire Beaver bullpen this weekend is an opportunity to clean up the free passes, which would turn an average bullpen into a strength.

As could be expected with some close-fought wins, the Utah bullpen has been a strength through the season so far. Closer Micah Ashman has been the biggest force for the Utes and has not allowed a run in his 6.2 IP while striking out 9 and allowing just 2 hits and a walk. Randon Hostert is a senior long man who has pitched 4 or more innings in 4 of his 5 outings this year. He has done a good job of limiting runs and has a 2.55 ERA, with most of that damage coming against Washington St in the Friday game. But like others in the Utah bullpen, the underlying strikeouts and walks indicate some regression is coming, his FIP of 4.99 is good but not as good as the ERA.

Advantage: Utah

NOTE: Arms is a count of the number of relievers a team has used this season. Quality arms are ones that have thrown more innings than 75% of relievers (5.6 currently) and have an FIP better than 75% of relievers (4.52 currently). Clean Outings are defined as ones where a reliever goes at least one inning and does not allow a run. Clean Outing % is the percentage of all outings by a bullpen that qualify as clean.

Without the buzz saw San Juan Broncos to deal with in another state championship game, Beaver left little doubt on Saturday who the 1A champs are.

After back-to-back 2A runner-up finishes to San Juan the past two years, top seed Beaver rolled to the 1A title on Saturday at Southern Utah University with a convincing 28-6 victory over No. 3 seed Enterprise.

The win was Beaver’s 14th state title in school history, and third in the past five years. In the other two years, it was runner-up to San Juan.

“Enterprise is a really good team, and I was really pleased with the way our kids came out. We drove down and scored the first series, set the tone. Our defense played phenomenal all night,” said Beaver coach Jonathan Marshall.

As it has throughout the season, Beaver got the job done with a dominant defensive performance, holding Enterprise to just 188 yards of total offense, and only 47 in the first half. In limiting the Wolves to one TD, the Beavers finished the season only allowing an average of 7.6 ppg.

“We knew they were going to be big. We just had to toughen up and go get them,” said Beaver linebacker Kutlur Matheson. “Just be tougher than them, that was our biggest thing.”

Saturday’s championship was the third-career football state title for Marshall — who’s also coached Beaver to nine girls basketball state championships. He never concerns himself with what classification the title comes in.

“I don’t care what classification we’re in. Our goal is to be the best team we can be, get to this game and give ourselves a chance to win it. We fell short the last two years, but our kids today they played like champions,” said Marshall.

Beaver got on the board first, scoring on its opening drive of the game after chewing nearly six minutes off the clock. Matheson hauled in a six-yard TD pass from Bodie Wheatley for the 7-0 lead.

The Beavers scored again just before the end of the first quarter as Tavyn Hollingshead darted into the end zone from 2 yards out for the 14-0 lead.

The second quarter wasn’t as productive for Beaver as it threw an interception and missed a field goal, but it still maintained the 14-0 lead until halftime.

Enterprise’s offense couldn’t do anything in that opening half, and it totaled just 47 yards and four first downs compared to 158 yards of total offense for the Beavers.

Enterprise’s hope for a quick start in the third quarter fizzled quickly with a fumble after just one first down, and Beaver quickly capitalized on the short field as Hollingshead hauled in a screen pass from Wheatley and raced 34 yards into the end zone for the 21-0 lead with 9:32 remaining in the third quarter.

Enterprise avoided getting shutout when Ryker Phillips scored on a 6-yard TD run on fourth and goal that cut the lead to 21-6 with 1:35 left in the third quarter.

It was short-lived momentum, however, as Beaver immediately responded with a seven-play, 65-yard drive that Deegan Blackner capped with a six-yard TD run of his own.

“I was really proud of our offense. Enterprise is a really good defensive team, and I thought our offense just made some gigantic plays and some big plays at key times,” said Marshall.

Hollingshead finished the game with 96 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Tate Gale rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries.

Beaver finished the season with a 12-1 record, with that lone loss coming in Week 4 when it lost 20-0 at Duchesne. Marshall said that was the best thing that could’ve happened to his team in hindsight as his players had to grow up a lot with their mentality.

“If it wouldn’t have happened against Duchesne it would’ve happened against somebody else,” said Marshall. “Sometimes losing is a good thing for you.”

A snowboarder’s quick thinking saved him from a potentially deadly encounter with a mountain lion while riding near Beaver Mountain, Utah, on Sunday, February 5.

Charlie Duffy recounted his experience in an Instagram post, describing how he noticed fresh paw prints in the snow before spotting the mountain lion just a few feet behind him. Acting on instinct, Duffy swung his snowboard with full force at the predator, managing to fend it off.

“Yesterday I was snowboarding the backside of beaver mountain when I had a near death experience. I made it to the car track that takes you back to the little beaver lift and was walking when I started to see paw prints in the snow. I was alone and it recently snowed so I was very on edge. I was constantly checking all around. There it was! I looked over my left shoulder and saw a mountain lion up to my left getting ready to pounce. My fight response instantly kicked in and I grabbed my board in my right hand and swung with full force at the jumping mountain lion. It barely grazed my neck with its claws and got knocked to the ground. The mountain lion proceeded to get back up and come back at me. At this point I could tell that the cat was starving to death and injured from the blow. I kept pushing it back and it eventually ran off very disoriented. I am lucky to be here today and to only receive a couple of small scratches from the cat.”

– Charlie Duffy Instagram post

In a statement to KSL news, Duffy explained that the mountain lion initially grazed his neck as it lunged, but he was able to hold it off using his snowboard as both a shield and a weapon. He ultimately escaped unscathed, aside from a few minor scratches.

Experts speculate that the mountain lion may have been starving or sick, as it appeared emaciated and disoriented during the encounter. While attacks by mountain lions are rare, winter conditions can drive these elusive creatures closer to human habitats in search of food.

Following Duffy’s ordeal, snowboard brands Nitro and 686 offered to replace his damaged equipment.

“INSANE. We’re gonna get that repaired for you.”

– 686 comment on Instagram

As winter outdoor activities continue, authorities advise individuals to remain vigilant and travel in groups to minimize the risk of wildlife encounters. If faced with a mountain lion, experts recommend standing your ground, making yourself appear large, and slowly backing away while maintaining eye contact.

‘Give ourselves a chance to win’: Beaver beats Enterprise to capture 1A state football championship

Written by E. George Goold November 11, 2023

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CEDAR CITY — One thing remains true about the Beaver High School football team: No matter their classification, the Beavers keep winning.

Beaver’s complete effort on offense and defense led to a 28-6 win over Enterprise Saturday afternoon, seizing the 1A state championship at Eccles Coliseum on the campus of Southern Utah University

“Enterprise is a really good team. I was really pleased with the way our kids came out,” Beaver head coach Jon Marshall told St. George News after the game.

“We drove down and scored the first series, set the tone,” Marshall added. “Our defense played phenomenal.”

Indeed the Beavers’ opening possession was a model of efficiency. The old-school running game Marshall employs is a masterclass in simplicity.

Senior Tavyn Hollingshead moved the ball on two runs, slicing through the Wolves’ line and ripping off chunks of yards.

Quarterback Bodie Wheatley passed wide to Baylor Blackburn, another chunk. Next, Wheatley plunged a QB keeper into the heart of the Enterprise defense.

At times Beaver’s offense looked like a classic Wing-T, other times it was a veer-type running attack featuring multiple running backs in motion, trapping and pulling linemen and precise quarterback play.

The Beavers (12-1 overall) sustained their opening drive with another Hollingshead run, and then Tate Gale took a pitch and outflanked the Wolves’ defenders.

Even the breaks went their way as the Beavers fumbled the next snap, but Hollingshead alertly collected the pill and ran it to the 8-yard line, first and goal.

Marshall called two more runs, then a false start set the Beavers back to third and goal at the 6-yard line.

Wheatley rolled out and found senior Kutlur Matheson for a 6-yard touchdown pass and Beaver had indeed set the tone.

Ten plays, almost half of the first quarter gone and a 7-0 lead that Beaver never surrendered.

“It feels great right now. I don’t know any other way to explain it, it just feels great,” Matheson said.

One of 15 seniors on Beaver’s roster, Matheson and some of his teammates have played seven championship games in a row, going back to peewee ball.

“We got the best program, the best coaching staff and the best kids there, through the state,” Matheson said. “Best coaching staff I ever played for.”

Matheson said he didn’t know why the players call Marshall “Big Bad Jon.”

Calamity struck Enterprise (11-2) when a bad snap was recovered by Beaver’s Gage Raddon.

Hollingshead ripped off a burst to the Wolves’ 2-yard line, then took the next handoff, lowered his head, and barreled into the house for a 14-0 Beaver advantage with 25 seconds left in the first quarter.

Hollingshead finished as Beaver’s leading rusher, posting 97 yards on 17 carries.

“We have studs up at the front, pulling around full speed, just killing kids in the line. I can just read their blocks and whatever I see I can go off that,” Hollingshead said. “We just keep doing it and we do it perfect. We’ve done it forever.”

Beaver put the game away in the third quarter, taking a 21-0 lead after Matheson recovered a fumble to get the ball back.

Wheatley dropped a 34-yard touchdown dime to Hollingshead and the Beavers were in full command of their destiny.

Enterprise quarterback Ryker Phillips put up a valiant effort in defeat, finishing a third-quarter touchdown drive with a 6-yard QB keeper that brought the tally to 21-6 in Beaver’s favor.

The Wolves were playing in their first state title game since 2005.

Beaver erased all doubt with a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, ending with a 6-yard scoring run by Deegan Blackner that provided the final margin.

The 1A state championship is Beaver’s 14th overall. They’ve won a state championship in three of the last five years, although two of them were 2A crowns.

Beaver went to the 2A state title game four years in a row, losing the last two before moving down to 1A before this season started.

“I don’t care what classification we’re in, our goal is to be the best team we can be to get to this game and give ourselves a chance to win,” Marshall said. “Our kids played like champions today.”

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MILFORD, Beaver County — The Utah Inland Port Authority continues to expand its reach into rural areas of the state.

The port authority's board of directors on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve the Mineral Mountains Project Area in Beaver County. For elected officials and community members alike, the project area signifies a way to create jobs and improve the economic outlook of a county that has experienced booms and busts.

"We struggle, we do great, we struggle," Beaver County Commissioner Tammy Pearson said. "But our roots run deep and we're determined to raise our families here. Our most precious resource is our kids and we're usually exporting. The opportunity to participate with the Inland Port Authority is an opportunity to import our kids back and bring our families back."

Others who spoke said they sometimes feel places like Beaver County and rural Utah, in general, are afterthoughts when it comes to economic development throughout the state. This feeling is one of the reasons that Ben Hart took the job as executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority, he told KSL.com.

"When Smithfield (Food) left Beaver County, that was a significant happening not just in Beaver County, but there was a lot of ripple effect," Hart said. "I think we realized, as a state, we've got to do more to support our rural communities."

To Hart, the port authority has the ability to have a boots-on-the-ground, palpable impact on communities by reinvesting and attracting new companies to the area.

While everyone at Wednesday's meeting spoke in favor of a project area in Beaver County, they were also adamant about what kind of growth they want to see. Places like Utah County and other areas along the Wasatch Front have experienced rapid growth over the past few years, something that Beaver County doesn't want and likely couldn't handle if it were to happen.

"They're not looking for 1,000 new jobs or 4,000 new people moving in, they're just looking to make sure that they've got jobs for the people that are currently in the county and to keep their kids and grandkids there and that's exactly what we're hoping to achieve," Hart said. "They really just need enough jobs to ensure that their economy is going to keep growing."

The Mineral Mountains Project Area has several zones under construction — including in Milford, Beaver, Minersville and Milford Flats — making up a total area of approximately 19,820 acres.

Hart said the property tax differentials received by the port for the 25 years that the project area is expected to be around is approximately $40 million — which will be reinvested into the local community through recruiting and growing businesses along with improving regional infrastructure.

"When you talk about reinvestment back into the community, that can make a huge difference. That's our hope, is that we can synergize all of this investment, create good jobs for the community and I think what we saw with the announcement with Fervo (Energy) which will be in the project area, is that we've got a great start," Hart said.

Texas-based Fervo Energy announced in late September the world's largest next-generation geothermal energy project that will deliver 400 megawatts of 24/7 carbon-free electricity.

As far as a job infusion for Beaver County, Hart estimated it could be in the range of 400 to 500 new jobs created by the project area.

Despite the local support behind the Mineral Mountains Project Area in particular, a common critique of the port authority has been the rate at which it's establishing new project areas. However, Hart pushed back against these sentiments.

"We're not growing too fast. I would say these people are incredibly misinformed and don't understand the need not only in rural Utah, but also in more urban and suburban parts of the state to ensure that we're growing smart," Hart said. "Part of our charge is how do we take trucks off the road and how do we take carbon emissions out of the air?

"We're absolutely interested in making this state a much better place to live for our citizens from an environmental standpoint and an economic standpoint."