College Beat: Bloggin' With Scroggin
Jun 25

ryan-jump.jpg Ryan Pembleton, a 6-foot-10 high school center from Texas, told me today he had committed to attend Cal Poly in the fall to play basketball for new men’s coach Joe Callero.

After decommitting from Army earlier this month, Pembleton was getting recruiting attention from Houston Baptist, Oral Roberts, Central Arkansas and Texas State, according to his dad Bob Pembleton. He canceled a visit to Texas State after making the trek to San Luis Obispo from Frisco, Texas.

“After talking with coach and seeing the campus, I really didn’t need to see any more,” Pembleton said. “He offered right then and there. I said,  ‘This is where I want to be.’

“I was scheduled to go for a visit to Texas State the day after I came home from Cal Poly, and I told them there’s no need.”

Pembleton said new Mustangs head coach Joe Callero told him to prepare this summer as if he were going to contribute next season but that if the coaching staff doesn’t think he can play 10 to 15 minutes per game, he’ll likely redshirt.

A season on the bench — and in the on-campus Chick-Fil-A — might not hurt the 200-pounder. To be able to fight his way around the paint in the Big West, he’ll have to pack on a few more pounds.

Callero was prohibited by NCAA rules to comment on the recruit, but he did confirm that Jonathan Gunderson was leaving the program and Bo Henning had asked for his release and would be transferring out.

Gunderson redshirted this past season under former coach Kevin Bromley after transferring from Santa Clara. Henning averaged 1.7 points and one assist in 17 games as a redshirt freshman this past season.

Those departures could open up room for yet another recruit to come in during what has been a serious overhaul. The coaching staff has been completely turned over, and six new players appear headed in — and it could be more.

Callero did say this on his Twitter account a little more than a week ago:

“Watching YouTube on top international players; technology is great when we are trying to save money on the recruiting budget!”

Here’s how the roster could look broken down by position next season. (These are only my projections based on the information that has been reported and my familiarity with the team.)

  • Center: Will Donahue (6-8, So.), a 265-pound transfer from Phoenix College, is probably penciled in to start here with Ryan Darling (6-7, Sr.) playing the back-up role if Pembleton is not ready to play right away.
  • Power Forward: Charles Anderson (6-6, Sr.) and Wes Dipprey (6-8, Jr.) played in this spot last season. Jordan Lewis (6-5, So.) could push for time here as could incoming freshman Ben Eisenhardt (6-10).
  • Small Forward: Shawn Lewis (6-4, Jr.) is the returning starter and should be one of the team’s top scorers. David Hanson (6-5, So.) could be the primary backup with incoming freshman Sean Hinkley (6-7) and Anderson or Jordan Lewis possibly checking in.
  • Shooting guard: Lorenzo Keeler (6-2, Sr.) is the returning starter and should be right there with Shawn Lewis as far as scoring. Shawn Lewis could rotate in here if the team needs to go big. Redshirt freshman Dylan Royer (6-2) could also get some time. San Francisco transfer Chris O’Brien (6-4, So.) could figure in here or at a couple other positions but will not be able to play until 2010-11.
  • Point guard: Amaurys Fermin (6-2, Jr.), an incoming junior college transfer, will be penciled in here. Fermin’s size also allows him to possibly share the backcourt with a smaller guard like Justin Brown (5-11, So.) or incoming freshman Kyle Odister (6-0) if Fermin is needed to play some shooting guard.

So far, I’ve accounted for 16 players, and any combination of the incoming freshman could redshirt. That number seems consistent with what Callero has indicated.

“We’ll be comfortable with 15 or 16, knowing full well that at least two of those will be redshirting and not even traveling,” Callero said. “Safe to say, even three guys could be redshirting.”

Stay tuned. The way things have been unraveling, there might be more information coming out soon. And you can follow Callero’s Twitter account HERE.

Posted in Men's Basketball | 6 Comments »
Jun 25

This just in from the Cal Poly media relations office:

Former Mustang Linebacker Restelli Makes Final Cut; Will Start for Edmonton

Linebacker Mark Restelli has earned a spot on the roster of the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos and will start in the season opener next week.

Ten players were cut Wednesday as the Eskimos pared their roster to the 46-player limit.

On Tuesday the Eskimos closed out their preseason schedule with a 31 - 19 victory over the British Columbia Lions. Restelli recorded four tackles and a forced fumble.

A week earlier, Restelli make a strong impression in his first professional football game, recording an interception and three tackles in Edmonton’s 45-12 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Edmonton opens its 2009 regular season next Thursday (July 2) against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Edmonton.

Restelli notched 267 career tackles in his four-year Mustang career, No. 9 all-time at Cal Poly. As a senior, Restelli was third in tackles with 54 and also recorded five pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, one interception and one fumble recovery.

So who would have thought at the end of the season it would be Restelli making the biggest immediate splash of any of the Mustangs seniors not named Barden?

James Noble, Tre’dale Tolver, Stephen Field and Jonathan Dally were all out there with professional aspirations. They were all a part of the greatest offense in school history. To my knowledge, they’re all still looking for opportunities.

Restelli wasn’t flashy. He didn’t make the spectacular pass defense plays of other defensive backs and he wasn’t one of the rushing linebackers racking up sacks. But he played every game, even when hurt with a sprained ankle this past season, and was a very dependable tackler during his career.

Congrats to Mark, and good luck to the other guys.

Posted in Football | 2 Comments »
Jun 18

Heard that Cal Poly is putting up a new video board at Alex G. Spanos Stadium next season?

Apparently, it was openly discussed by Mustangs athletic department personnel at an auction/banquet I wasn’t invited to, and as of now, no information has been given to the media.

Now, before I get to the real topic of this post — “Why wasn’t I Invited to the Auction/Banquet?” — I wanted to hit on the video screen real quick.

Yeah, it’s kind of a secret, kind of not, I guess, depending on your social circles, but the rumors are that something will be up by the time Cal Poly starts its football season this fall.

There’s also some thought that the company producing the board is the same that furnished South Dakota State with its video screen. I went to the Mustangs’ game with South Dakota State last season, and I can vouch for the quality of the big board in Brookings, S.D.

It was crisp, clear and very professional. I’m sure the Cal Poly contingent in attendance, including athletic director Alison Cone, took note.

But here’s something else they have at South Dakota State: A pretty quality television broadcast of the games. Some of you may have seen it online last year.

People are wondering when the video screen is going up at Cal Poly. How big is it? And how will it look?

I wonder, what the heck are they going to show on it?

Nobody broadcasts video of the Mustangs games. Where will they get the replays? Who will shoot the video? Where will they get the cameras?

As one Tribune intern postulated today, will all they show on the big screen be leftover clip art and cut scenes from Super Tecmo Bowl or Lite-Brite versions of horses galloping?

OK, I’m being overly pessimistic, but this is the question I’d want answered if I was a fan: Does getting a screen in the stadium mean someone will be broadcasting the games?

If not, wake me when the season starts and we can see the board up and running.

If this is a move in the direction of games being broadcast, then that would be something to get very excited about.

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Posted in Football | 6 Comments »
Jun 3

Amaurys Fermin, a 6-2, 210 point guard from Hagerstown City College in Maryland and a former New York City prep standout, said Wednesday that he had committed to play basketball at Cal Poly next season.

Per NCAA rules, New Mustangs head coach Joe Callero could not comment beyond confirming that Fermin was going to be in town this weekend for an official visit, and he has said previously that the team only had one visit remaining.

There’s an in-depth story on Fermin in Thursday’s print edition of The Tribune, but I wanted to throw a couple tidbits on the blog for the insiders who come online to read my ramblings.

Talking to Amaurys (pronounced Uh-mar-ee; the “s” is silent) and his coach, Hagerstown’s Earl Redden, it sounds like Fermin can come in right away and contribute. He’s a pass-first guard who can penetrate and score when called upon.

Here are his statistics from the past season: 17.5 points per game, 8.2 assists per game (5th in NJCAA), 4.0 rebounds per game, 1.3 steals per game, 33.33 percent from 3-point range (31 of 93), 44 percent on field goals, 61.6 percent on free throws.

Redden had good things to say:

“There were so many times that I can remember this year where he stole the ball then went the length of the court and finished right a the iron with people hanging on him.

“He hit the game-winning shot against our big rival, Frederick Community College, on our floor. They had went down and scored with like 11 seconds to go, and I kind contemplated calling timeout.

“He saw a gap, and he just went off the dribble right down the lane. And then scored right on the right hand side of the basket just as the buzzer went off. It was a big win for us, and I think it did a lot for him. And the team really realized that, ‘Hey he was going to put us on his back and get the win.’

A Dominican Republic transplant to Bronx, N.Y., Fermin had an outstanding prep career at John F. Kennedy High, leading his team to a public school city title. He’s an exciting talent who would likely make a big impact in his first year.

Here’s the catch with Fermin. He’s never before been able to get eligible for his NCAA Division I suitors. He still needs to pass three summer classes before he can be eligible at Cal Poly. He graduated high school in 2005 and would be a 22-year old college junior.

I can only guess that Callero is hoping Fermin has righted his life and can handle the rigorous academic life of a student at Cal Poly. It’s a roll of the dice for both, but, according to Fermin, the Mustangs coach seems very committed to seeing Fermin succeed.

Callero’s attitude and approach are what won him over as he was getting attention from other schools.

“It was a lot of schools recruiting me throughout the year,” Fermin said. “I had a lot of Big East schools, a lot of schools talking and saying the same thing.

“He spoke a lot about my future after Cal Poly, and what he’s trying to do. He was being up front with me and being what kind of guy he really is.”

That makes four recruits for Callero and one from former coach Kevin Bromley committed to play next season. How do you feel about the latest Mustangs recruit to surface? And how do you like the job Callero has done so far?

Posted in Men's Basketball | 19 Comments »
May 30

D.J. Gentile struck out looking with the tying and go-ahead runs on second and third, and Cal Poly fell 10-9 to Kent State in an elimination game at the Tempe Regional at Arizona State’s Packard Stadium.

Check out SanLuisObispo.com for the breaking news update and read The Tribune’s Sunday print edition for quotes from Larry Lee and the players.

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments »
May 30

The Mustangs put up five runs in the top of the ninth — what could be their final at-bat of the season — against Kent State and cut the lead at the Tempe regional to 10-7 with survival on the line.

But did Cal Poly take too long to get going?

The Mustangs bookended a two-run triple by Luke Yoder with RBI singles from Kyle Smith and Bobby Crocker. Ryan Lee had another to cut the lead to 10-7.

Adam Melker awaits a new pitcher and Adam Buschini is on deck with one out and the bases loaded.

Posted in Baseball | No Comments »
May 30

Cal Poly closer Eric Massingham came on to relieve DJ Mauldin in the seventh inning after Mauldin had shut out Kent State in the fifth and sixth inning.

Massingham quickly got two outs, but his mojo stopped there. The Golden Flashes pounded out a four-run rally against Massingham, capped by a two-run home run to right by Travis Shaw.

Jared Eskew eventually came on to get the final out of the seventh.

The home run bolstered the Kent State lead to 9-1 with Cal Poly due to hit just twice more in the game. If the Mustangs can’t get eight runs in their next six outs, it will be a disappointing end for them.

If it does end like this, what are your thoughts on the season?

Posted in Baseball | No Comments »
May 30

Two innings after Wes Dorrell grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded, another Cal Poly baseball player stepped in for him and did exactly the same.

Still trailing Kent State 5-1, Dorrell was removed for pinch-hitter D.J. Gentile with the bases loaded and another chance to tie the game or at least cut the deficit.

Gentile battled Golden Flashes reliever Jon Pokorny to a full-count, fouling off a ton of pitches in the process, but when Gentile finally put the ball in play, it was right to Kent State second baseman Jimmy Rider for another double play.

Fielding miscues and now stranded runners are seemingly dooming Cal Poly to an 0-2 exit in the team’s first trip to an NCAA Division I regional.

Posted in Baseball | No Comments »
May 30

Wes Dorrell came up in the fifth with a chance to tie the score or at least make a dent into Kent State’s 5-1 lead.

But with the bases loaded and one out, Dorrell ground into an inning ending double play. It can’t feel good for the junior first baseman, especially after committing the error on a misplayed bunt that allowed the Golden Flashes to score their fifth run.

Cal Poly’s committed three errors through four innings, and each of them proved costly in one way or another. And to this point, the Mustangs have note been able to make up for the errors with their bats.

Kent State has already used three different pitchers. Mauldin is still pitching for Cal Poly. But he’s in some trouble in the bottom of the fifth after allowing back-to-back singles to the first two hitters.

Posted in Baseball | No Comments »
May 30

As feared, the Mustangs are now facing a multi-run deficit in Tempe, but it’s only partially their fault.

DJ Mauldin looked to have setteld down since giving up a run in the first and was looking to head into the fourth with the score tied 1-1. (Cal Poly scored on an RBI single by Ross Brayton in the second.)

But after what appeared to be a routine foul dribbler by Kent State’s Ben Klafczynski with a 2-2 count and one man on, the umpire awarded the Golden Flashes batter first base. From my perch on the loft above the press box, it looks like home plate umpire Chuck Busse was saying the pitch hit Klafczynski.

I may be too far to tell if he was hit, but Klafczynski very obviously swung at the pitch. Rules dictate a hit by pitch is nullified if the batter has the opportunity to get out of the way and does not or if he attempts a swing.  

EDIT: IT’S COME TO LIGHT THE CALL WAS A CATCHER’S INTERFERENCE. I’M TOO FAR AWAY TO KNOW WHETHER IT WAS THE RIGHT CALL OR NOT. BUT IT STILL DIDN’T END WELL FOR CAL POLY. THE MENTAL MISTAKES ARE KILLING THE MUSTANGS’ CHANCES.

Cal Poly coach Larry Lee argued, and there was an umpire conference, but Klafczynaski remained on first.

With two outs and now two on, Mauldin went on to give up an RBI single and an two-run double as Kent State took a 4-1 lead into the fourth.

Cal Poly tried to squeeze home a run in the next half inning, but Kyle Smith was thrown out at the plate, and Brayton grounded out with another man on third to end the inning (his first out of the regional). The Mustangs still trailed 4-1.  

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments »

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