By Mateo Lopez, Jan. 25, 2022
After two canceled seasons, Cal Poly Pomona’s baseball team returns to Scolinos Field on Feb. 4, with hopes to catch a spot in the playoffs.
In their previous season, the Broncos were defending their 2019 California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament title, compiling a 13-8 record before the season ended abruptly due to COVID-19. Broncos Head Coach Randy Betten,entering his 12th season, will lead a 34-player roster with 21 new players, and 13 returning players.
“We’re excited just to be back out here again, and my expectations are to never slow down from where we were two years ago,” said Betten. “No matter if we haven’t played in two years or three years, it doesn’t matter. We’re still here, we’re together and we’re going to get a chance to compete together, so it’s going to be a fun journey.”
Although the journey will be long, the destination of postseason baseball is the focal point.
“It’s playoffs,” said Betten. “We do all the preparation, all the hard work, the early lifts, hitting the cage, late practices, early morning practices, it’s cold, it’s hot, whatever the situation may be; you do all that work to do the best thing of all and that’s playoff baseball.”
Outfielder Cesar Lopez is one of the four players returning from the 2019 season, and is the only senior on the roster. Alongside infielder and graduate student Ryon Knowles, Lopez will be a veteran presence in the clubhouse.
“It’s a different role, but I’m happy to take it on,” said Lopez. “We got a lot of energy so I’m excited to see what they could develop into. I’m excited how this is going to go. This is going to be a learning experience for them, and it’s me and Knowles. We’re the old men of the group so we got to take care of them.”
While Lopez is entering his senior season, he will not be using his one-year-eligibility and will play his final season in a CPP uniform this year.
“Our goal is to win it all,” said Lopez. “We want to carry and win the national championship; win every series, win every weekend.”
The 2021-2022 roster consists of 16 pitchers. RHP Will Rudy, who made three relief appearances as a freshman pitcher after being a two-way player in high school, will be pitching.
“I like the idea of me being in control of the game,” said Rudy. “I like going from pitch-to-pitch competition; just being able to compete against the batter one-on-one. I found that to be more fun.”
Rudy expects to be a starting pitcher, and hopes to play a key role in the lineup.
The team will continue with its rounds of practices and scrimmages for the next two weeks. The Broncos will open the season, playing home on Feb. 4 against University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics Department.
Correction, Jan. 25, 2022, 1:17pm: Previously the Poly Post reported Will Rudy will play pitcher and shortstop. Rudy will only play pitcher.