Orem Owlz
{{Short description|Minor league baseball team in Utah, USA}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name = Orem Owlz
| firstseason = 2001
| lastseason = 2020
| city = Orem, Utah
| misc =
| logo = Orem Owlz logo.svg
| uniformlogo = Owlz.PNG
| class level = Rookie Advanced (2001–2020)
| past class level =
| league = Pioneer League (2001–2020)
| conference =
| division =
| past league =
| majorleague = Los Angeles Angels (2001–2020)
| pastmajorleague =
| nickname = {{plainlist|
- Orem Owlz (2005–2020)
- Provo Angels (2001–2004)
}}
| ballpark = {{plainlist|
- UCCU Ballpark (2005–2020)
- Larry H. Miller Field (2001–2004)
}}
| leaguenum = 5
| leaguechamps = {{hlist|2004|2005|2007|2009|2016}}
| divnum = 8
| divisionchamps = {{hlist|2001|2002|2003|2004|2005|2008|2009|2011}}
}}
The Orem Owlz were a Minor League Baseball team located in Orem, Utah, United States, from 2001 to 2020. The team competed in the Pioneer League as a Rookie League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The Owlz played their home games at Home of the Owlz on the campus of Utah Valley University. They were previously known as the Provo Angels from 2001 to 2004. In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Pioneer League, of which the Owlz had been members since 2001, was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League. Concurrent to this change, the Owlz relocated to Windsor, Colorado, and became the Northern Colorado Owlz.
History
Formerly known as the Provo Angels (2001–2004), the team originally played at the Larry H. Miller Field on the campus of Brigham Young University in northeastern Provo. After the 2004 season, the team changed ownership and moved from Provo to a new stadium in neighboring Orem.{{Cite web|url=http://universe.byu.edu/2004/12/06/orem-owlz-replace-provo-angels/|title=Orem Owlz Replace Provo Angels|date=6 December 2004}}
The Owlz played in the Pioneer League, which was a Rookie League with an abbreviated schedule (short-season). The team won five Pioneer League titles; one while in Provo (2004),{{Cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595091227/Angels-on-high--Pioneer-League-crown-is-Provos-first-in-4-tries.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115429/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595091227/Angels-on-high--Pioneer-League-crown-is-Provos-first-in-4-tries.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2014|title = Angels on high Pioneer League crown is Provo's first in 4 tries|website = Deseret News|date = 14 September 2004}} and four while in Orem (2005, 2007, 2009, and 2016).
The team is prominently mentioned in the book Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit, a memoir recounting the author's one season playing for the Provo Angels.
Team owner Jeff Katofsky planned to relocate the team to Pueblo, Colorado, in 2020, where they would be known as the Pueblo Owlz,{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=23861739|title=Minor League Baseball team owner to move club to Colorado|website=ESPN|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=June 21, 2018}} but the plan was abandoned due to financial concerns by the city of Pueblo.{{cite web|last=Speddon|first=Zach|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/07/24/pueblo-county-pulls-plug-on-ballpark-project/|title=Pueblo County Pulls Plug on Ballpark Project|website=Ballpark Digest|date=July 24, 2018|access-date=July 24, 2018}}
Ultimately, they relocated to Windsor, Colorado, in 2021 and became the Northern Colorado Owlz.{{cite web|last=Kirk|first=Alexander|title=Orem Owlz announce move to Windsor in 2021|url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/baseball/northern-colorado-owlz/73-bb93ff83-d8be-4057-aa8d-33c1d93c18af|website=9 News|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=November 30, 2020}} This move was made in conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021 in which the Pioneer League was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League.{{cite web|title=Pioneer League named MLB Partner League|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pioneer-league-designated-mlb-partner-league|website=Baseball America|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=November 30, 2020}}
Playoffs
- 2017: Lost to Ogden 2–0 in semifinals.
- 2016: Defeated Ogden 2–1 in semifinals; defeated Billings 2–0 to win championship.
- 2015: Lost to Idaho Falls 2–1 in semifinals.
- 2014: Defeated Ogden 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Billings 2–0 in finals.
- 2011: Lost to Ogden 2–1 in semifinals.
- 2010: Lost to Ogden 2–1 in semifinals.
- 2009: Defeated Ogden 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Missoula 2–1 to win championship.
- 2008: Lost to Great Falls 2–1 in finals.
- 2007: Defeated Great Falls 2–0 to win championship.
- 2005: Defeated Helena 2–0 to win championship.
- 2004: Defeated Billings 2–0 to win championship.
- 2003: Lost to Billings 2–0 in finals.
- 2002: Lost to Great Falls 2–1 in finals.
- 2001: Lost to Billings 2–0 in finals.
All-stars
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"
! colspan=2 | Provo Angels | |
| Season{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-234525 |title=All-Star Teams 2000-today |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=August 16, 2017}} | Name & Position |
| 2001 | Al Corbeil, C Casey Smith, SS Sam Swenson, OF Pedro Liriano, RH SP Jason Dennis, LH SP |
| 2002 | Alex Dvorsky, C Ryan Shealy, 1B Alberto Callaspo, 2B Erick Aybar, SS |
| 2003 | Warner Madrigal, OF Abel Moreno, RH SP |
| 2004 | Sean Rodriguez, SS Andrew Toussaint, DH Mitchell Arnold, RP Tom Kotchman, Mgr. |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"
! colspan=2 | Orem Owlz | |
| Season{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-234525 |title=All-Star Teams 2000-today |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=August 16, 2017}} | Name & Position |
| 2005 | none |
| 2006 | Chris Pettit, OF Sean O'Sullivan, P Tom Kotchman, Mgr. |
| 2007 | Jay Brossman, 3B Robert Fish, P |
| 2008 | Luis Jimenez, 3B Angel Castillo, OF Roberto Lopez, DH Jayson Miller, P Will Smith, P |
| 2009 | Dillon Baird, 1B Tom Kotchman, Mgr. |
| 2010 | none |
| 2011 | Taylor Lindsey, 2B Ryan Jones, OF |
| 2012 | Wade Hinkle, 1B Wendell Soto, SS Joel Capote, OF Michael Snyder, DH Gabriel Perez, P |
| 2013 | Cal Towery, 3B José Rondón, SS Jonathan Van Eaton, P |
| 2014 | Michael Bolaski, P |
| 2015 | Michael Pierson, 3B Taylor Ward, C Joe Gatto, P Kyle Survance Jr., OF |
| 2017 | Elvin Rodriguez, P Chris Rodriguez, P Daniel Procopio, P Ryan Vega, OF Leonardo Rivas, INF Isaac Mattson, P |
| 2018 | Kevin Maitan, SS Jake Lee, P |
| 2019 | D'Shawn Knowles, OF Jeremiah Jackson, DH |
Players with MLB experience
Players are listed by the season(s) they played for the Provo Angels (2001–2004) or Orem Owlz (2005–present).
See also
{{portal|Baseball}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Orem Owlz}}
- {{official|www.oremowlz.com}}
- [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?city=Orem&state=UT&country=US Baseball Reference] – Orem teams
- [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?city=Provo&state=UT&country=US Baseball Reference] – Provo teams
{{Utahsports}}
{{Orem, Utah}}
Category:Los Angeles Angels minor league affiliates
Category:Defunct Pioneer League (baseball) teams
Category:Professional baseball teams in Utah
Category:Baseball teams established in 2001
Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2020
Category:2001 establishments in Utah