2023 Team Preview: Cypress Centurions

The Road to the California State Games begins with the 2023 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 prepared for another year of exciting coverage.

Today we focus on the Cypress Centurions who come into 2023 after finishing 22-6-2 overall and securing its ninth consecutive Empire League championship. The Centurions are returning a majority of its starters and are looking to utilize that experience to bring home a CIF Southern Section D1 title.

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Team:

Cypress Centurions

Head Coach (years at school):

John Weber (17)

Twitter Handle:

@Cypcentbaseball

CIF Section & Division:

CIF SS D1

Conference/League Name:

Empire

Last Year’s Record:

22-6-2

8-2 (League) 

2022 Playoff Run:

Lost in CIF SS D1 Quarterfinals to Villa Park

# of Returning Starters:

7

# of Returning Pitchers:

All

Team Expectations:

"This year’s team is very mature and offensive. We return all positions players with the exception of 3B and catcher from last year. I believe that John Short, who played everyday at multiple positions last year, will be the starter at 3B. Max Sensac, a transfer from Bosco, will be the starter behind the plate. I think he and John will make us an even better team than last year. We return all our pitching from last year, led by Luke Matlock, followed by Zack Ocampo, both combining for about 55% of the innings. We also return Matthew Morrell, Wyatt Rosales and Short, who is coming off a 15u USA Gold medal summer. This year's Schedule will be very daunting. Goal is to win the league for the 10th time in a row as well as CIF."

Team Strengths:

"Maturity of team, offensive and defensive."

Areas of Improvement:

"Pitching needs to be good for us to win it all"

College Commitments:

Abbrie Covarrubias- 6’1, Sr., SS, committed to USC - Last year hit .426, All County, All CIF

Matthew Morrell-  6’4, Sr., RHP/OF, committed to Oregon St. -  Last year hit .355, All county, All CIF

Nick Montgomery- 6’4, JR., 1B/Catcher, committed to Arizona St - Last year hit .305, All League

Gabe Cobian- 5’11, JR., CF/LHP, committed to Long Beach St. Last year hit .337, 1st Team All League

Top Uncommitted 23s:

Luke Matlock- 6’0, 2B/RHP, Last year hit .323, 1st team All League - 9-1-1 1.81 ERA

Trevor Montelone- 6’3, OF, "Trevor is a 1st team All County football player who will rotate in the outfield when Morrell and Cobian pitch."

Matthew “Chewy” Thomas- 6’4, OF/1B, "Chewy is a big physical young man who will play RF and hit in the middle of the lineup"

Max Senesac- 6’2, Catcher, "Power hitting; catch and throw guy who will be our starter."

Top Uncommitted 24s:

Zack Ocampo - 5’10, LHP,  8-1-1 record with 1.22 ERA

Justin Tillar- 5’11, OF/3B, "Left-handed hitter with serious power, has to sit out but should make an impact once available."  

Antonio Lujan- 6’1, 3B/OF, "Lisa Fernandez’s son, switch hitter who can really hit from both sides of the plate"

Bradley Parsonage- 5'11, OF/RHP, "Bradley will be an OF replacement late in the game as well as a set up guy out of the pen."

Ty Arvizo- 6'0, Catcher, "Ty would be the starting catcher on probably 97% of the varsity teams in the Southern Section. He is a PLUS catch and throw guy, with gap to gap power."

Jackson Pohl- 5'11, INF, "Jackson will be playing all 3 infield positions when Short and Matlock pitch."

Top Uncommitted 25s:

John Short- 5’11, 3B/RHP, Last year hit 271, - 2-1-2 with an 2.1 ERA, 2nd team All League

Wyatt Rosales- 6’3, LHP