The 2008 Cal Poly Pomona baseball team looks to put the past two seasons of injuries behind as it sets its sights on returning to the top of the California Collegiate Athletic Association this spring.
The Broncos finished each of the past two seasons with identical 20-31 records and look to return to the four-team CCAA Championship Tournament for the first time since 2005.
Cal Poly Pomona, which won NCAA Division II championships in 1976, 1980 and 1983 under legendary coach John Scolinos, has posted winning records in six of the past nine years and won 30 or more games four times in the past eight seasons.
Mike Ashman, who was a key member of the Broncos’ 1980 championship squad, enters his 13th season as the Cal Poly Pomona head coach. Ashman earned All-America honors for Cal Poly Pomona in 1980 after driving in a team-high 56 runs for the national champs.
The Broncos feature a trio of returning honorable mention all-CCAA players from 2008 in senior left fielder A.J. Cavaletto (Santa Barbara), senior right fielder Kyle Boggio (Santa Clarita) and starting pitcher Jarett Attard (Poway).
“I think the keys for our team lie in bullpen depth and overall depth,’’ Ashman said. “We have the potential to hit a lot of doubles, manufacture runs, bunt, and hit-and-run. But we also have some guys who have power, too.
“It comes down to health. We haven’t been fortunate in that area the last two years.’’
Cavaletto hit .334 with team-high 6 HRs and 26 RBI last season. He tied for team high with 33 runs scored and was second on team in hits with 52.
Boggio played in 50 games with 49 starts and hit .335 with 3 HR and 35 RBI. He led the team in at-bats (176), hits (59), doubles (tie with Kirk Gross with 12), and RBI. He was second on the team in walks (17) and had 17 multi-hit games.
Attard went 4-3 with a 2.74 ERA in seven starts and 12 appearances. The converted outfielder had a better than 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 38 strikeouts and 11 walks. He allowed 47 hits and just two HRs in 49.1 innings. Opponents hit just .254 and in his final three games of the season, he had 22 strikeouts and three walks in 18.2 innings.
Junior Ben Lebovitz figures to get the nod at first base. His play was sporadic through much of last season. But in his final eight games, he hit .577 with 15 hits in 26 at-bats with four multi-hit games that included two three-hit games and a four-hit game. Chris Wilson should get some playing time, as well as Terry Mermer and Russell Laubach, both at first base and at designated hitter.
At second, sophomore Manny Navarro returns. He played in 37 games with 25 starts, and hit .289 as a freshman. Joe Villa also should see time at second.
At shortstop, junior college transfer Jeff Ringholm had an outstanding fall season. Ashman says Ringholm has shown he can be more than adequate for the Broncos.
Another junior college transfer, Josh Potter, will play at third base. He played his first two seasons at Golden West College.
Cavaletto, Boggio and center fielder Matt Davidson will see most of the time in the outfield, with quality depth provided by fifth-year senior John Daniels and Frank Klopp
The starting rotation will include junior college transfer Brandon Mozley, who played at Santa Ana College last year and should be one of the top starters in the CCAA. Junior Ryan Screnar is back for his third season. The right-hander went 5-7 5.57 ERA last season with a team-best 14 starts in 76 innings. Also in the mix, according to Ashman, are Jason Jordan, Steve Nelson, Sean Moreno and Bryan Banes, who lost 35 pounds during the offseason.
The bullpen will include John Fisher, Brandon King, Sheldon McGregor, Eddie Pryor and Casey Yokubaitis.
The always-competitive CCAA features 36 games with the conference opener set for Feb. 22 at Sonoma State. Chico State, UC San Diego and Sonoma – three of the CCAA’s four teams that reached the NCAA Tournament – should be at the top of the league this spring, according to Ashman.
The Broncos will play 21 home dates this spring, but the end of the schedule holds a certain appeal. The Broncos are scheduled to play 20 of their final 26 games at Scolinos Field beginning with a doubleheader against Cal State San Bernardino on March 15.
“With that schedule, it’s going to be very important to play well early,’’ said Ashman, whose season opener is Feb. 1 against Cal State Los Angeles in a nonconference game at Scolinos Field. “We’ll have to be mentally tough, because any series in the CCAA can be won by any team. There aren’t any easy weekends.’’
