Lauren RabainoFormer Cal Poly first baseman and outfielder Jimmy Van Ostrand is headed to the Olympics.
On Tuesday the British Columbia native was bound for Beijing with Team Canada, having just completed a series of four exhibition games against Team USA.
While Canada proved successful in the first installment, gaining a narrow 4-3 win, the USA dominated the series in Durham, N.C. by earning consecutive 7-2, 9-1 and 17-5 victories.
Not to be deterred, the 6-foot-4 star of the Mustangs’ 2006 season found improved confidence in his team’s abilities during the international tune-up. Van Ostrand sees strength in the players and the single triumph.
“They just have a very good team, a lot of very talented guys, a lot of the best people that they pulled from the minor leagues,” he said. “So it was definitely a tough match-up, but we showed that we could compete with them. . I like our chances. I feel confident now that we can compete with any team out there. We’ve got great team chemistry and I’m excited.”
Van Ostrand, 23, is proud to represent the nation of his birth where he spent his first 18 years before coming to the Central Coast to attend Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. But he will also be representing Cal Poly on the field through the skills he’s groomed and the connections he’s made.
“I learned a lot of stuff at Poly from the coaches there, and it’s really helped my development as a player and I just try and continue on,” he said. “Every aspect of my game is improved from the time I was there.”
While Van Ostrand amassed 13 home runs, 13 doubles and 49 RBI in 2006, Mustangs head coach Larry Lee continues to work with the minor leaguer during offseason batting practice.
“As an individual he’s very self-motivated and goal-oriented,” Lee said. “We see him here during the winter and fall classes when he’s not competing. It’s a very valuable experience that he’s getting as a minor league player on the Olympic team. It’s a better experience and he’s going to get a lot out of it.”
Team Canada’s manager, Terry Puhl, who has been making use of Van Ostrand’s talent as a designated hitter, leftfielder and first baseman, certainly believes in his potential.
“I like his smiling face and wonderful spirit,” Puhl wrote in an e-mail interview. “He competes at a high level and prepares himself properly. These are qualities that will help him in the future of attaining the goal of playing at the major league level.”
The Canadians open against China on Wednesday.