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Photo from University of Utah Ryan Hilts, shown tagging out a base runner at second, is now playing the outfield for Utah. Utah's a good fit for Hilts Ex-North star is enjoying a fine season By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN It's been a long climb for former North Medford High baseball player Ryan Hilts to become the successful major-college player he aspired to be four years ago. But Hilts, 22, a senior centerfielder for the Utes, who played shortstop and third base for North Medford High from 1992-94 and for two Medford Mustangs American Legion teams, feels he's ascended to the top of his climb. "I'm playing about as well and as consistently as I have in my college career," says Hilts. "I've had some frustrations, but it's been worth it to have two good years here at Utah." After graduating from North Medford in 1995, Hilts signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Oregon State. Just four games into his sophomore year for OSU head coach Pat Casey, Hilts dropped from the team for personal reasons. He says he wasn't having fun playing baseball for OSU. It showed in his play. "I was used to having fun and playing hard for coaches that I loved, like Sandee Kensinger and Brett Wolfe at North Medford," says Hilts. "I didn't feel that comfortable playing at Oregon State. "I started my first four games as a sophomore, but it wasn't what I wanted. "I was too scared of screwing up something, instead of going out there to try to do good things," says Hilts. "It's really hard to play well when you're playing not to screw up," says Hilts. "I decided to quit and concentrate on my studies. I thought my baseball career was over." But he changed his mind. "I found later that I didn't want to give up my goals to be a good college player because one guy was spoiling it," says Hilts. "So, I started to look for a new place to go and play baseball." He narrowed his choices to Utah and UC-Santa Barbara. "I liked both coaches at those schools, because they are both offensive-oriented in their philosophies and they're player-friendly coaches who care about their players," says Hilts. "I need that from a coach, I think, to do my best." Hilts opted to sign with Utah head coach Tim Esmay. Hilts, a 5-11, 165-pound center fielder, was converted from a second baseman after his roommate and best friend on the team -- Sam Swenson -- suffered a season-ending back injury early this season. "I don't like playing center field," says Hilts. "It's boring out there. But I made the change for the team. "I like to play second base because you are right in the middle of the action," says Hilts. "If you have a bad at-bat, you can go out there and get your mind off it at second base with things going on all around you. When I go out to center field after a bad at-bat, I tend to get frustrated because I have too much time to think about it." Hilts leads the Utes in stolen bases with 14 in 16 attempts. He has a .965 fielding average as a second baseman and center fielder. Utah coach Tim Esmay says Hilts has been a valuable team leader and producer, especially in the late innings. "He's been great in the clubhouse and on the field," says Esmay. "Plus, he's been starting to produce some big knocks (hits) late in the games. "Just last week, he had a two-out single in the ninth inning to tie the game against San Jose State. We're going to miss Ryan a lot next year. He's been a fun kid to have around. He makes us laugh, but he also produces." Hilts is the No. 5 overall hitter on the team with a .306 average. "I've always been a pretty good contact hitter with pretty good speed," says Hilts. "That's why he (Esmay) has me hit leadoff. "I'm really not his kind of player that much," says Hilts. "He likes to take bigger, stronger guys and turn them into power hitters. "I hit the long ball once in a while, but not that often. I only have one home run, but I still hit a lot of balls to the gaps and get doubles or triples out of them. I just don't hit a lot of home runs." Hilts, a double major (sociology and chemistry) with a 3.58 grade-point average midway through his senior year, plans to attend pre-law school after graduating from Utah. But he says he doesn't plan to follow his father, John Hilts, into a law practice. "I want to get to law school to specialize in that to lead to something else I might do," he says. "But I don't want to be an attorney, at least right now." Hilts is hitting .306 (52 for 170) in 40 games. He's hitting .375 in Western Athletic Conference play. "I have a chance to hit .400 in the conference," he says. "That's a goal of mine. If I can keep hitting, I can do that. And it would help the team get to the playoffs." Utah is currently in seventh place in the WAC standings. "We need to finish in the top six to make the league playoffs," says Hilts. "That's the way I want to go out of here." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.