Philip Utley

Position:
rhp
Ht./Wt.:
6-3 / 270
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Jackson, Tenn.
Prev School:
Walters State CC

Outlook for 2008: Diligent work ethic has enabled him to rebound from season-ending Tommy John surgery and appears ready to compete for significant role in 2008. Elected as team co-captain at conclusion of fall drills and will benefit from shedding weight and overall improved condition.

Utley's Career Highs
IP (in a start): 8.0 at Houston (4/21/06)
IP (in relief): 2.2 vs. Troy (3/12/06)
Strikeouts: 10 at UCF (5/13/06)
Strikeouts (season): 50 (2006)
Wins: 4 (2006)

2007 (Senior): Was awarded a medical redshirt after an injury limited his season to just two starts...Began the season as Memphis' Saturday starter...Was effective in both starts, posting a 2.84 ERA with seven strikeouts...Earned a pair of no-decisions...Memphis was 2-0 in the games he pitched in...Held opposing hitters to six hits and a combined .136 batting average in 12.2 innings...Struck out five and held BYU to two runs on three hits through 5.2 innings in his 2007 debut...Tossed seven innings and fanned a pair in a 3-2 win over Northern Iowa.

2006 (Junior): Worked his way into the No. 2 role after starting the season as the staff's closer...Finished the year with a 4-5 record and a 6.30 ERA...Made 15 starts in 20 appearances...Tied for the team lead with 50 strikeouts and two saves...Walked just 11 hitters...Second on the staff with 65.2 innings pitched...Notched his first Division I win after allowing one run in 1.2 innings against Notre Dame (2/25/06)...Earned wins against Southern Miss, Marshall and UCF...Posted a season-high and career-best 10 strikeouts in seven strong innings to post a 10-4 win over UCF (5/13/06)...Logged a 6.30 ERA with 41 strikeouts as a starter...Was 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in 10 relief outings...Gave up just one earned run in his first six appearances (6.2 innings)...Tossed one scoreless inning to earn a save against Alabama in the season-opening win...Picked up his second save after holding Nicholls State scoreless in an inning of work...Earned his first start vs. Austin Peay (3/28/06)...Struck out five and allowed two earned runs in five innings of work...Worked at least seven innings in four of his 10 starts...Fanned eight and allowed three runs in an eight-inning outing vs. Houston (4/21/06).

Summer 2006: Took half of the summer off before joining the Union City Greyhounds of the K-I-T League...Went 2-1, with 33 strikeouts and a save...Posted a 2.84 ERA in four appearances.

Walters State Community College: Transferred to Walters State Community College to play his final JUCO season...Played for head coach Ken Campbell at WSCC...Helped guide Walters State to a 46-16 finish...Led the Senators pitching staff to a TJCCAA Tournament title, a Region VII championship, an East Central District title and an appearance in the 2005 Junior College World Series...Earned Second Team All-TJCCAA accolades after going 8-3 and yielding a 2.37 ERA in 15 starts...Finished his final juco campaign with 99 strikeouts in 102.3 innings...Pitched seven complete games...Pitched 6.1 innings and earned a no-decision in his lone appearance in the JUCO World Series loss to Hutchinson (5/29/05)...Fanned three in the loss.

Okaloosa Walton Community College: Spent his freshman campaign at Okaloosa-Walton Community College...Helped the Raiders to a 43-17 mark, while earning All-conference honors...Was a teammate of Lance Scoggins.

Prep: Prepped at Jackson-Central Merry High School...Lettered in baseball and bowling in his prep career...Received All-District and All-Region accolades all four years at JCM, including garnering District MVP honors...Tied the Tennessee state high school record for strikeouts in a game with 18.

Personal: Full name is Philip Grant Utley...Son of Phil and Janet Utley...Was a 35th round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins out of high school...Majoring in interdisciplinary studies.