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Feb. 7 marked the Mustangs last practice before games commenced. Head coach Larry Lee’s team spent three hours in an intersquad-style scrimmage at Baggett Stadium, where the players are assigned to opposing teams and play a simulated nine-inning game. The lineups — posted on the wall of Cal Poly's dugout — were evenly-matched, with the strongest hitters dispersed between the two teams.
Before practice got rolling, players such as Nick Torres spent time chatting with the media. Torres, a junior right fielder, hit .333 last season and slugged a team-leading .520 percent. He’ll hit in the heart of Cal Poly’s lineup this season. “I’ve put in a ton of work in this offseason to get better,” he said. “I have high expectations for myself and I know the coaching staff does as well.”
Players such as sophomore outfielder Alex Michaels (left) spent a fair amount of time warming up before practice. After a 15-minute stretching session, the team split up into pairs to play catch.
The team’s gear lined the dugout as players warmed up on the field. The bats played a big role in Cal Poly's 40-win season a year ago. The Mustangs led the Big West Conference with 100 doubles and came in second with 34 homeruns. Cal Poly's .402 slugging percentage was second only to Cal State Fullerton's. Lee still sees room for improvement in 2014. "We should be much better offensively," Lee said. "Last year, very much of an underachieving offense. We just didn't produce very well. Wasn't one of the main reasons why we won so many games last year."
Third baseman Jimmy Allen (No. 15) awaits a toss from his throwing partner. 2014 marks the final season at Cal Poly for Allen, who — as a senior — is one of the team's longest tenured players. His three years as a Mustang include first-team all-Big West honors in 2012, an 8-for-13 performance at the 2013 NCAA Los Angeles Regional tournament and a 23rd-round Major League Baseball draft selection by the Boston Red Sox this past June.
Even though Cal Poly’s players were pitted against each other for the intrasquad practice on Feb. 7, the guys still enjoy a laugh before going to battle. Sophomore designated hitter Brian Mundell (far left) and Torres (second left) have plenty to be happy about. Both players are already off to a hot start in 2014, with Mundell's .556 average and Torres' five runs leading the team through three games. They were placed on opposing team's for the intrasquad match.
Allen mans third base as the team sneaks in a set of pre-game drills before the intrasquad game begins. Despite Allen's success as a sophomore, the Vista, Calif. native struggled in 2013, committing nine errors in the field and striking out 44 times at the plate. Lee is confident his third baseman will improve on last year's woes. “He’s better in all facets of his game right now," Lee said. "He’s in good shape, swinging the bat better than ever and playing good defense.”
As the game kicks off, a player trades his glove — parked at the end of the dugout — for a bat as he prepares to hit. Cal Poly finished in the middle of the pack last year with a collective .973 fielding percentage, strong enough for a fifth-place tie in the conference. This season, the Mustangs have been solid in the field. A throwing error by shortstop Peter Van Gansen during the fifth inning of the season opener against Kansas State on Feb. 14 will prevent the Mustangs from a perfect fielding percentage.
Lee, decked out in his standard black Cal Poly attire, looks on as sophomore pitcher Matt Imhof prepares for an inning of work on the mound. It was final day before Cal Poly faced official competition, and a moment of solitude before the four-month whirlwind of baseball season began. “It’s a long offseason," Lee said. You got about 8 months off before you cram 56 games in 13 or 15 weeks and hopefully have a chance of playing in the postseason.”

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