Provo Angels

• Location: Provo, UT
• League: Pioneer League 2001-2004
• Affiliation: Anaheim Angels 2001-2004
• Ballpark: Larry H. Miller Field

Team History

The Provo Angels were an Anaheim Angels affiliate that began play in the Pioneer League in 2001 when the Helena Brewers moved to Utah. Under the leadership of manager Tom Kotchman, they reached the league championship in each of their four seasons, finally capturing a title in 2004. The next year, the team became the Orem Owlz.

The 2002 Angels were featured prominently in the book Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit (ISBN 9780670020706), written by pitcher Matt McCarthy and published in 2009.

2001

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.

• BR Team page

2002

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.

• BR Team page

2003

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 hit .368/.434/.517 with 65 runs in 63 games and was 4th in the league in average. In the playoffs, a pattern seemed to be forming. The Angels beat Ogden again but were once again swept in the finals by Billings.

• BR Team page

2004

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.

• BR Team page

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs	Hitting Coach	Pitching Coach
2001	53-23	1st	Tom Kotchman	Lost League Finals		Zeke Zimmerman
2002	38-38	4th	Tom Kotchman	Lost League Finals		Kernan Ronan
2003	54-22	1st	Tom Kotchman	Lost League Finals		Kernan Ronan
2004	44-32	1st	Tom Kotchman	League Champs