Utah HS Team Preview: Timpanogos
March 4, 2022
Utah HS Team Preview: Timpanogos HS
The Utah High School Activities Association has announced that opening day of the 2022 season will commence on Tuesday March 7th. We are less than a week away from many of the top HS teams in the state, descending upon St. George, at all the surrounding high schools, for the annual pilgrimage of preseason tournaments. Let’s hope for the typical “Utah’s Dixie” sunshine to come out, as I will be out covering and reporting on some of the state’s top HS talent.
The PBR Utah staff begins its 2022 season coverage with our annual preseason team previews, where we will take notes from coaches, and highlight returning players, newcomers, and some sleepers. Over the next couple weeks and leading up to opening day, we will be highlighting some of the top programs in the state in our team previews.
PBR Utah will also be publishing its state Power 25 rankings that will be updated every Monday once the season begins. Throughout the season, PBR Utah will be pumping out coverage, highlighting individual players, games, rankings, scouting reports and nominating a player of the week. PBR Utah looks forward to getting out there this spring to see some great baseball.
We now break down the Timberwolves with our team capsule below:
Timpanogos is led at the plate and on the mound with 3 high school ace type pitchers, which should carry the Timberwolves to a deep playoff run, as they have potentially the best 3 man rotation in the state!
2022 Dixie State commit Dakota West, RHP/3B, will be a mound piece once he arrives at the St. George based university. West is tall, lean and physically strong, with a loose arm and has a FB that ranges from 87-91 mph. He’s a K thrower that with an added years experience, coming off a 1st Team All-Region performance in ‘21, look for West to front the rotation as a senior.
2023 Utah commit Billy Bird, LHP/1B, who I’ve seen play since he was 12 years old, will slot into the #2 spot in the rotation, with his FB ranging from 85-89 mph and look for Bird to be a low 90’s type arm in 2023. Bird possesses big straightaway to pull power, and can leave the park at any time. A PBR Future Games alum last summer in Atlanta, caught the attention of many D1 recruiters with his two way type abilities. Bird committed to the “Utes” in the early fall and should be a perennial All-State performer over the next two years, after being honored as 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-State in ‘21.
2023 Utah commit Tate McGillivray, RHP/SS, has been a fast riser this past summer, and being slight of build and weighing a feather, McGillivray can pump FB’s from 88-92 mph and has an electric arm! Look for Tate to man SS and slot into the #3 spot in the rotation.
Of Note: As we countdown to opening day with the team previews, we still have one big event to kick off the HS season with the PBR Utah Preseason All-State. This event will be loaded with 61 of the top uncommitted players, along with 20 committed players, as it's an INVITE only event of the top players in the 2022-2025 classes.
Timpanogos by the numbers:
Head Coach: Kim Nelson (40th Year!!)
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8 State Championships
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American Fork (1984, 1985)
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Timpanogos (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2016, 2017)
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Winningest HS Coach in Utah state history
Classification: 5A
Region: 8
2021 Win-Loss: 21-9
State Playoff appearances in last 10 years: 10
State Championship appearances last 10 years: 5
State Championships last 10 years: 3
2022 Preseason PBR Ranking: Stay Tuned…
Key Returners with Class/Position
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2022 Dakoda West, RHP/3B (Dixie State commit)
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2023 Billy Bird, LHP/1B (Utah commit)
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2023 Tate MacGillivray, SS/RHP (Utah commit)
Young players who have College potential down the road
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2022 Dakoda West, RHP/3B (Dixie State commit)
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2023 Billy Bird, LHP/1B (Utah commit)
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2023 Tate MacGillivray, SS/RHP (Utah commit)
Who is your X Factor to your success
2022 Dakota West, RHP/3B (Dixie State)
Player lost to graduation and College Baseball
Carson Hawkes, RHP
Jackson Bird, C
Returning All-Region/All-State Players
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(1st Team All-Region) 2022 Dakota West, RHP/3B (Dixie State commit)
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(1st Team All-Region/1st Team All-State) 2023 Billy Bird, LHP/1B (Utah commit)
Coaches Summary and Outlook
Pitching should be the strong point with West/Bird/MacGillivray. We lost 11 seniors to graduation. We have only 4 seniors in the program this year, so we are counting on underclassmen who have not played at the varsity level to fill the void.
Top players that are not already mentioned:
2022 Dylan Gazaway, 2B/P
2022 Chazz Crook, 1B/RHP
2022 Kam Heinz, OF.
I think we will be able to get outs, my worry is how many times we can touch home plate.
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Kim Nelson (Head Coach)