With the men’s baseball season just starting the Falcons are losing four of the teams top starting players at the end of the season.
These four athletes are moving on from Cerritos College onto a higher level of skill and athleticism.
These soon to be former Falcons will be moving onto the Big 12 and top conference schools in the college level.
By signing letters of intent Andrews; O’Neil; Shull; and Castillo have agreed to play for the next two to four years at Universities and Cal States.
Falcon Aurio O’Neil who received 1st Team All-South Coast Conference last season signed with Texas Tech. Universities.
O’Neil who plays the position of outfield lead last seasons team in several offensive categories.
This Falcon also batted .358 and lead the team at bat with 45 runs and 68 hits.
With that O’Neil had 11 doubles, 25 RBI, 19 walks, and 13 stolen bases.
O’Neil finished the season with a .929 fielding percentage.
O’Neil received a full ride to a D-1 school for the next two years, which only took him three weeks to sign with Texas and become a Red Raider.
“Cerritos has prepared me to play at the next level. I hope my experience at Texas will be as good as it was here at Cerritos,” said Aurio O’Neil, outfielder.
The next Falcon who signed was Andy Castillo who is a transfer form Santa Ana College.
This sophomore is an infielder who was a utility player last season signed in November with the University of Hawaii.
He has received a two-year scholarship with spending.
Castillo batted .289 last season, six doubles, two homeruns, and 20 RBI in 97 at bats.
With a season left Castillo hopes to make the most of his time left at Cerritos.
“Although I have been accepted to Hawaii, I still plan to work hard and set high goals,” said Andy Castillo, shortstop.
Pitcher, Jimmy Shull signed with Cal Poly San Louis Obispo with a full ride for the next two years.
Although this school is rebuilding their coaching staff Shull feels a smaller campus will give him a more one on one advantage.
“My dream is to play with a D-1 school and now I’m excited I get to live that dream,” said Jimmy Shull, Pitcher.
Joining Aurio O’Neil at Texas Tech University is sophomore Ryan Andrews.
As a freshman Andrews was named 1st Team All-South Conference as a utility player at Cerritos last season.
This Falcon received almost a full ride for the next two years at Texas.
Although it only took Andrews two weeks to sign Andrews plans to concentrate on the rest of the season as a Falcon.
” I am looking forward to the challenge the Big 12 will bring,” said Ryan Andrews, closing pitcher/outfielder.
Last season Andrews batted .310, had 11 doubles, 36 RBI, stole 21 of 25 bases, and walked 25 times last season.Andrews became the fourth player in school history to hit for the cycle last season against East Los Angeles.
