{"id":12805,"date":"2011-03-16T03:05:53","date_gmt":"2011-03-16T10:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seamheads.com\/?p=12805"},"modified":"2011-03-16T03:05:53","modified_gmt":"2011-03-16T10:05:53","slug":"rick-anton-and-the-utah-utes-return-home-to-face-byu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2011\/03\/16\/rick-anton-and-the-utah-utes-return-home-to-face-byu\/","title":{"rendered":"Rick Anton and the Utah Utes return home to face BYU"},"content":{"rendered":"

The three-game series starts on Thursday as the Utah baseball team looks to build off recent momentum.\u00c2\u00a0 The Utes started the year 0-5 after Cal and Arkansas proved too much in early season play but the squad\u00c2\u00a0rebounded in March\u00c2\u00a0and now sits at\u00c2\u00a0a record of 5-7.<\/p>\n

Anchoring the staff is senior Rick Anton<\/strong>, a 2011 MLB Draft prospect, who sports a 2-1 record from four games started.\u00c2\u00a0 The left-handed pitcher\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ERA is 2.05 and his has 24 strikeouts from 26.1 innings pitched.<\/p>\n

On March 10th in a 6-4 win against UC Davis, he earned the victory after pitching 7.2 innings and tallying five strikeouts.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Photo Credit: University of Utah<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking with Seamheads.com in February, Anton voiced his strong desire to win for his teammates above all else.\u00c2\u00a0 Now as the Utes return home this Thursday to Spring Mobile Ballpark, Anton is charged with delivering a victory against Utah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in-state rival.<\/p>\n

Leading up to the 2011 collegiate season, Anton noted that he worked on all his pitches but spent some extra time refining his changeup.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

The left-hander also shared some of the specifics behind his in-game mental approach.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I want to relax before the game,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Anton said on the phone.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a long day so I have to stay focused on what I need to do.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The Utes pitcher believes that the team has the tools and talent to make a push for a regional bid.\u00c2\u00a0 Navigating the Mountain West Conference is the current challenge with several deep squads lurking including TCU.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a pretty good hitting conference.\u00c2\u00a0 TCU has a great lineup.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Utes Diamond Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Junior first baseman C.J. Cron<\/strong>, a highly touted professional prospect, earned MWC Player of the Week honors during this stretch.\u00c2\u00a0 He ended last week 9-for-17 with six RBI and five doubles as the Utes went 3-1 on the road.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The three-game series starts on Thursday as the Utah baseball team looks to build off recent momentum.\u00c2\u00a0 The Utes started the year 0-5 after Cal and Arkansas proved too much in early season play but the squad\u00c2\u00a0rebounded in March\u00c2\u00a0and now sits at\u00c2\u00a0a record of 5-7. Anchoring the staff is senior Rick Anton, a 2011 MLB […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,9,78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-collegiate","category-general","category-minors"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t