PREP BASKETBALL 1993 / EMPIRE LEAGUE

CYPRESS

1992 RECORDS OVERALL: 14-13-1 LEAGUE: 7-8

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Don Rayl: 46-91-1

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Rob Walshe Sr. CF R-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Jack Peck Sr. 1B-P L-L Bryce Renn Sr. RF L-L Josh Willard Sr. SS R-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Dave Martin Jr. C R-R Brian Flanagan So. 1B-P R-R Jason Ahlswede Sr. SS R-R Dave Ojeda Jr. 3B-P R-R Tim Larsen Jr. P R-R

OUTLOOK

Last year will go down as something of a dream season for Cypress, which could hardly be considered a baseball powerhouse in recent seasons. The Centurions earned a berth in the Southern Section 5-A playoffs, an upset of sorts. In their first playoff appearance in 13 years, the Centurions hauled off and upset third-seeded Huntington Beach and highly regarded pitcher Jon Ward (now at Cal State Fullerton), 9-0, in the opening round. Losing to Bishop Amat, 5-4, in the second round ended the Centurions’ dream. And now it’s back to work for Rayl, who must make due with only one returning starter and only three others who saw much action in ’92. He faces the tough task of replacing Ken Fann, the Centurions’ top slugger (five home runs, 29 hits), and Micah Stovall, the top pitcher (6-3, 70 strikeouts, 2.02 earned-run average). It was Stovall who defeated Ward in the playoff game. Without Fann and Stovall, Rayl will turn to Walshe, a two-year starter in center field, and Peck, one of the team’s most versatile players, for leadership. Most league coaches believe the Centurions won’t have enough punch for a repeat playoff appearance, however.