2022 Season Preview: Cypress Centurions

The Road to the California State Games begins with the 2022 California high school baseball season. With the season just around the corner, our Staff has begun putting out team previews from all around the state getting you prepare for another year of exciting coverage.

Today we focus on the Cypress Centurions who bring back their whole pitching staff and all but two starters which have them positioned for a successful spring season. 

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Team:

Cypress Centurions

Head Coach (years at school)

John Weber 16

Twitter Handle

@CypCentBaseball

CIF Section & Division

1

Conference/League Name

Empire

Last Year’s Record

19-11

Stat Leaders from 2021

- 3B Daniel Garcia

- RHP/OF Matthew Morrell

- C Bren Wilkinson

- CF Neil Jansen 

2021 Playoff Run

Quarterfinals L to HW

# of Returning Starters

6

# of Returning Pitchers

4

Team Expectations

We have great experience from last years team as we return all but 2 starters from that group. This group has the making of a really good team even though it's still a young group. The outlook is that we will start only 3 seniors: OF Neil Jansen (San Jose St.), C Bren Wilkson (CSUN) and 3B Daniel Garcia. Our pitching all returns, which is nice, however, we do lack depth for all the non-league games early. I do like our 3 starters in Morrell, Ocampo, and Matlock. 

Team Strengths

Experience, offense, defense. 

Areas of Improvement

Pitching could be the only area that we lack depth. We return 3 starters from last year; Jr. OF/RHP - Matthew Morrell (Oregon St), Soph. Zak Ocampo and JR Luke Matlock. However, I like the addition of Soph. OF/LHP - Gabe Cobian (LBSU), and freshman John Short.

College Commitments

- JR. OF/RHP - Matthew Morrell (Oregon St)
- Soph. OF/LHP - Gabe Cobian (LBSU)
- SR. OF - Neil Jansen (San Jose St.)
- SR. C - Bren Wilkson (CSUN)
- Soph. C/1B - Nick Montgomery (ASU)
- JR. SS - Abbrie Covarrubias (LBSU)

Top 22s

SR. OF - Neil Jansen (San Jose St.)
SR. C - Bren Wilkson (CSUN)

 Top 23s

JR. OF/RHP - Matthew Morrell (Oregon St)
JR. SS - Abbrie Covarrubias (LBSU)
JR. RHP/2B - Luke Matlock
JR. 1B/OF - Matthew (Chewy) Thomas, Transfer from Bosco. Big time pop. Has to sit out. 

Top 24s

Soph. OF/LHP - Gabe Cobian (LBSU)
Soph. C/1B - Nick Montgomery (ASU)
Soph. LHP - Zack Ocampo 

Top 25s

Fr. RHP/INF - John Short - Will pitch a lot and play 2B.