Prep Baseball Report

Utah HS Team Preview: Jordan


Jeff Scholzen
Utah Scouting Director

Utah HS Team Preview: Jordan Beetdiggers




Opening Day is around the corner, try outs have been scheduled starting Feb 28th, and rosters are soon to be set. The Utah High School Activities Association has announced that opening day of the 2022 season will commence on Tuesday March 7th. 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 Beetdiggers with our team capsule below:

We continue our coverage with the Jordan Beetdiggers. Jordan was a staple in the PBR Power 25 a year ago and is led by Head Coach, Chad Fife who has captured multiple 5A state titles and coach of the year honors in the past 5-6 years. The Beetdiggers should make a deep playoff run as their young team of sophomores that dotted the lineup a year ago, are one year older and have that varsity experience from a 21-9 club. 

In the lineup it starts with junior 1B and LHH slugger Cole Kershaw, a Utah commit and the 2021 6A Triple Crown hitting leader (Avg 582, HR 8 with 36 RBI), albeit missing the state tourney with some back issues. Kershaw has the most power of any Utah HS hitter, as he participated in the national Power Showcase HR Derby this past fall. Kershaw can send moonshots 400-450’ deep into the night. Kershaw also has a discerning eye at the plate and draws more walks than strikeouts. Look for Kershaw, who captured region MVP honors a year ago, to potentially contend for state MVP honors along with American Fork SS-Fisher Ingersoll. 

Catcher, 2023 Cade Nalder, also participated in the Power Showcase event as well and was a 1st Team All-Region honoree. Nalder hit .397 and Possesses D1 potential and definitely next level ability at some school, Nalder will hit in the middle of the lineup in front of or behind Kershaw as a protection piece. 

2023 OF-Hunter Gatti, was on a tear at the plate last season as he hit .462 with 8 2B’s and a triple with a .557 OB%. A 1st Team All-State performer, Gatti should be squarely on the radar, once he attends the Preseason All-State event on March 5th along with many of the top Jordan players. Gatti, as should be mentioned, only struck out 3 times on the season with 13 walks! 

2023 CF-Stockton Mathis had a strong region play campaign and made All-Region and looks to take it to another level as a junior, and is one of the better CF’ers in the state. A next level type talent, and has projectable size, to grow into a top of the order bat. Mathis could potentially be the clubs leadoff hitter. 

An intriguing young 2024 stud, that is a transfer, SS/C-Bo Williams has captured my attention at the Preseason ID, and should be the Beetdiggers starting SS and spell Nalder behind the plate at times. Williams is a slick fielding SS with athleticism, actions and a strong arm. Definitely possessing next level D1 type ability, look for his name throughout the season as he has the potential to be one of the better players in his class moving forward! 

On the mound, Jordan has 2022 grad RHP-Oklan Vigil, a mid to upper 80’s arm that should be the staff ace and pitch in the tougher matchups. Vigil will be at the Preseason All-State to get his name on college coaches radars and will be a name to keep handy as he will draw college attention as mentioned. 

The Beetdiggers have always been a state playoff staple, as they have reached the playoffs every year for the past 10 seasons, and played for two state titles, winning on both occasions! Look for a club that is gonna give teams fits, with a deep and talented roster of hitters that should score a lot of runs. 

Jordan by the numbers:

Head Coach: Chad Fife

(Played collegiately at Utah Valley and Eastern Oregon U and was a college teammate of yours truly. Holds the single season HR record at Eastern Oregon with 15)

  • 2014, 2018 5A State Champions

Classification: 5A

Region: 8

2021 Win-Loss: 21-9

State Playoff appearances in last 10 years: 10

State Championship appearances last 10 years: 2

State Championships last 10 years: 2

2022 Preseason PBR Ranking: Stay Tuned!!

Key Returners with Class/Position

2023 Cole Kershaw, 1B (Region 3 MVP) 2023 Cade Nalder, C

2023 Hunter Gatti, OF

2023 Stockton Mathis, CF

2022 Oklan Vigil, RHP

2023 Evan Atkinson, UTL

2023 Carter Perry, UTL

Young players who have College potential down the road

Cole Kershaw 

Cade Nalder

Oklan Vigil

Evan Atkinson

River Schmidt

JC Garza

Aaron Jensen

Hunter Gatti 

Noah Gatti

Ryder Malmstron

Bo Williams 

Ryan Upham

Jackson Rosvall

Who is your X Factor to your success

  • Cole Kershaw, 1B (Utah commit)

Player lost to graduation and College Baseball

  • Micah Ashman, LHP (Utah)

  • Tyler Fitch, RHP (USU-Eastern)

  • Ethan He, SS (Dixie State U)

Returning All Region / All-State players

  • (1st Team All-State) 2023 Hunter Gatti, OF

  • (1st Team All-State) 2023 Cole Kershaw, 1B

  • (1st Team All-Region) 2023 Cole Kershaw, 1B (MVP)

  • (1st Team All-Region) 2023 Hunter Gatti, OF

  • (1st Team All-Region) 2023 Cade Nalder, C

  • (2nd Team All-Region) 2023 Stockton Mathis, CF

  • (2nd Team All-Region) 2023 Kobe Carter, UTL

  • (2nd Team All-Region) 2023 Evan Atkinson, UTL

  • (2nd Team All-Region) 2023 Carter Perry, UTL

  • (2nd Team All-Region) 2022 Oklan Vigil, RHP

Coaches Summary and Outlook

I have a team of hard working, loyal good men. It’s a strong offensive team, and I believe we have what it takes to be the top team in our region and can continue to compete for state titles. My players work hard on the field as well as in the classroom. They are upstanding young men and I couldn’t ask to coach a better group of young men!

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