Nicknames catch on in the most random ways. Last week, while in Arizona looking around in the Cactus League, I found former Cal Poly infielder Peter Van Gansen. Van Gansen was a sure-handed shortstop for Larry Lee’s team who fielded his position like a professional from the first game of his freshman year. 

Van Gansen’s easy nickname during his time was PVG. It was easy to yell from Krukow’s Klubhouse and fans quickly caught-on. 

On social media, the nickname was “Pistol Pete” — a good one considering his strong arm. 

But neither of these were the best ones for PVG. When Van Gansen scored the winning run the other night in a big league spring training game, I got a text that reminded me of the greatest nickname that never was. 

“PVG scored the winning run for the Padres today. Detective Van Gansen is on the case.”

Detective Peter Van Gansen. Fantastic. We should have used it more at Cal Poly. There were certainly enough great plays he was in the middle of.

Detective Van Gansen is on the case. By Owen Main

PVG’s glove has always been solid, but he used the bat to end the game last night. By Owen Main

The bases were loaded with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning, and Peter Van Gansen came through. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Van Gansen drove the ball down the right field line for a game winning hit.

For video of Van Gansen’s walk-off, click here. 

So far this season, Van Gansen’s slash line is .313/.389/.413 in 39 games. He has two homers and 18 RBIs. He’s even stolen five bases.

Also on his Northwest League All-Star team was former Mustang Brian Mundell. Playing for low-A Boise, Mundell is has a .267/.354/.389 slash line to go with two home runs and 19 RBIs.

Mundell started the game at first base and went 0-2. Van Gansen came into the game as a pinch hitter and went 1-2 with a pair of walks.

Click here for photos of Van Gansen and Mundell signing autographs prior to the game.

After winning 10-1 in the series finale to sweep Baseball America’s preseason 22nd-ranked team, the question I find myself asking is what was most impressive about the sweep.

Pitching

Slater Lee looked awfully good for the Mustangs on Saturday night. By Owen Main

Cal Poly’s pitching starts with Matt Imhof. The junior has the highest of expectations this season after a dominant performance in the UCLA regional last year and a Team USA stint over the summer.

The numbers two and three starters are much more of a question-mark. Slater Lee (Saturday starter) is a true freshman and the Sunday starter, sophomore Casey Bloomquist, had an ERA over 5.00 last season.

After Imhof combined on a shutout with closer Reed Reilly on Friday, Lee and Bloomquist basically followed-suit. Lee struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings on Saturday, giving up just one run. Bloomquist gave the Mustangs five solid innings, also giving up just a single run.

In-all, the Mustangs gave up just three runs in three games against a nationally “elite” offensive team. Runs can sometimes be hard to come by, but when your pitchers pitch like the Mustangs did this weekend, so much pressure is taken off everyone in the lineup. Championship teams have great pitching — plain and simple.

It’s Jimmy

After a somewhat disappointing junior campaign, Cal Poly senior third-baseman Jimmy Allen was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 23rd round. Instead of going pro, Allen decided to spend his summer with the San Luis Obispo Blues and come back to the Mustangs for his senior year. Allen had three RBIs in the first two games of the Kansas State series and provides senior leadership to a relatively young infield.

If Allen is back to the form he showed during his sophomore season, his presence in the heart of Cal Poly’s batting order also gives the Mustangs more quality lineup depth than they probably had last season, when scoring runs became an issue in the Regional.

Swagger

Sophomore Brian Mundell went 5-9 in the weekend series. By Owen Main

They’ve only played three games, but this team seems to exude a little more confidence. All baseball players have swagger, but teams who win consistently always have the most.

The development of sophomores Brian Mundell and Peter Van Gansen is a huge factor in the swagger department. No longer wide-eyed freshmen, the pair of sophomores seem to be fully comfortable and confident from day-one.

Mundell, back this season from Tommy John surgery, led the team with 11 home runs last season and demands respect from opponents. He was 5-9 in the series with five walks and two big doubles to help break Sunday’s game open.

Van Gansen’s one hit in the series was an RBI double, but his bat isn’t the reason he’s started at shortstop since his first game as a freshman. Anchoring the Cal Poly defense, “Pistol Pete” made several smooth plays throughout the series. With Van Gansen as the defensive anchor, Cal Poly only made one error the entire weekend.

Pitching, defense, hitting. Unless baseball has special teams, I’d say this year’s (now 22nd-ranked) Cal Poly squad looked pretty complete in their opening series.

Photos by Owen Main

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