Cal Poly Baseball 2006

The start to the 2006 baseball season could not have been better for Cal Poly after sweeping No. 21 Fresno State at Baggett Stadium over the weekend.

Although the Mustangs looked anything but perfect, clutch performances resulted in three wins and none more dramatic than a Josh Lansford home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win on Sunday.

However, the sweep of Fresno State is an appetizer of what is to come this season.

The Mustangs, who had the 18th toughest schedule in collegiate baseball last season, will have a schedule of similar caliber for the 2006 season. Not only will Cal Poly face defending national champions Cal State Fullerton and perennially powerful Long Beach State, but San Diego State and World Series participants Oregon State have been added to this season’s schedule.

“Every weekend wins are tough to come by, both conference and non-conference,” Mustang coach Larry Lee said. “Big West baseball is ranked the fifth toughest conference in the country.”

Lee will begin his fourth season at the helm of Cal Poly baseball. Last season he accumulated his 100th win while guiding the Mustangs to their best finish since joining Division I play.

Cal Poly ended the season at 36-20 overall and 14-7 in the Big West, which put them at a tie for second place. Last year’s team broke five all-time school records and produced three top 10 leaders in individual statistics.

Although Lee will be fielding a vastly different lineup, he is optimistic about this team’s potential for success.

“We have a possibility of being a little stronger throughout the lineup,” Lee said. “Defensively, we should be comparable to last season.”

However, after losing their No. 1 and 2 pitchers from last season, “the big question is can we match our pitching staff from last year,” Lee said.

Lee said junior pitcher Gary Daley should be one of the best pitchers on the West Coast and should be a high draft pick into the professional ranks. “(We) look for big things out of him and he sets the tone for the weekend,” Lee said.

The coach also mentioned Rocky Roquet as playing a strong role on the pitching staff.

“The makeup of the team is very good,” Lee added. “They’re very hard working – Now they have to create their own identity.”

Key returning players will be Jimmy Van Ostrand, who will be switching to first base from the outfield, Brent Walker at second, Matt Cooper in the outfield and Lansford at third. Last season, Van Ostrand batted .345 with four home runs and 25 stolen bases, earning him honorable mention Big West honors.

“It’s going to be a different look, obviously, but I’m looking forward to it,” Van Ostrand said about making the change to first base. “I’ve been working there all fall, and I’m feeling fairly comfortable over there.”

Solid newcomers to the Mustangs’ roster are junior Jacob Luque, from Cypress College; sophomore Grant Desme, from San Diego State; and junior Matt Canepa, from College of Mateo.

“They’re going to be asked to step in right away and fill some pretty big shoes,” Lee said. “They should do extremely well.”

“We have a bunch of guys who are going to be good players,” Van Ostrand said. “So we all just have to do what we can do individually and then our team will be all right.”

And, yes, Cal Poly fans, beer will be sold at this season’s games.