POMONA, Calif. – With the release of the 2017 NCBWA Preseason Top 25 poll, the Cal Poly Pomona baseball team will start their season on Thursday as the No. 18 team in the country.
 
The Broncos open the 2017 campaign at home with a three game series against University of Colorado – Colorado Springs before traveling for a double-header with UC Irvine on Saturday.
 
Thursday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m., and will include a special ceremony honoring current assistant coach Jimmy Ramos and former Bronco Dave Hajek. Hajek returns to Scolinos Field as the head coach of the Colorado Springs Mountain Lions, who enter their inaugural season after adding the sport last year.
 
The Broncos are coming off a record in 2016 and a second consecutive third-place finish nationally.
 
Also receiving recognition in the preseason poll is junior right-hander Ryan Alsworth who was named a Preseason All-American Honorable Mention by the NCBWA.
 
CPP closes out the series against Colorado Springs on Friday with a double-header at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.