By Wes McCurtis
CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College baseball program has seen over 300 student-athletes move on to play at 4 year universities in their storied history. After making their 11th appearance in the State Championship Tournament last season, the Chargers will add more to that list with 6 of their 9 sophomores signing national letters of intent to play for NCAA Division I programs.
Aaron Case, Saint Louis University- Sophomore outfielder and leadoff man Aaron Case will join the Saint Louis University Billikens of the Atlantic 10 Conference next season. Case was a 2015 All-Orange Empire Conference 1st Team selection as a freshman and finished his career at Cypress with a .303 AVG, 101 hits, and 37 RBI in 83 games played. Prior to Cypress, Case played for former Charger Josh Kliner at El Modena High School where he was an All-League selection his junior and senior seasons. He will major in business while attending Saint Louis University.
Bo Coolen, Ohio State University- Sophomore first baseman Bo Coolen is headed to Columbus Ohio to join the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big 10 Conference next season. Coolen won a West Coast Conference Championship his freshman year as a member of the Pepperdine Waves before transferring to Cypress College for his sophomore season. Coolen made an immediate impact for the Chargers batting .343, with 48 hits, and 13 RBI to go along with a .984 fielding percentage in 44 games at first base. The lefty played four years of varsity baseball at Punahou High School in Honolulu Hawaii where he was an All-League and 2nd Team All-State selection. He will major in social and behavioral science while attending Ohio State.
Elijah Skipps, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo- Sophomore outfielder Elijah Skipps will move on to play for the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs of the Big West Conference next year. Skipps was undoubtedly the Chargers best power hitter last season. The 2016 All-Orange Empire Conference 1st Team selection hit .333 with 35 RBI and led Cypress in HR (8), doubles (12), slugging (.600), and walks (32) in 46 games. Prior to Cypress College, he played for John Weber at Cypress High School where he was a three-time All-League selection, All-CIF selection, three-time League Champion, and CIF Champion. Skipps went on to play his freshman season at the University of Arizona before transferring to Cypress College for his sophomore season. He will major in business while attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
John Santospago, California State University Northridge- Sophomore catcher John Santospago will join the Cal State Northridge Matadors of the Big West Conference next season. Santospago played at Jacksonville University in 2014 before transferring to Cypress College in 2015. In his first season at Cypress Santospago was an All-Orange Empire Conference selection with a .339 AVG, 42 hits, and 23 RBI in 36 games. A lingering injury limited his playing time during the Chargers 2016 season, where he saw action as a pinch hitter and pinch runner. Santospago played on the varsity baseball team at Archbishop Wood High School in Pennsylvania where he was the 2013 Southeastern PA Catcher of the Year, All-Southeastern PA selection, All-Catholic Catcher, and All-City. He will major in behavioral science while attending CSUN.
Nick Reeser, Saint Louis University- Sophomore infielder Nick Reeser will join teammate Aaron Case at Saint Louis University next season. Despite only appearing in 16 games during his freshman season at Cypress, Reeser gained tremendous experience and made huge strides heading into his sophomore year. Reeser made the most of his opportunity and became the most reliable hitter in the Cypress lineup. He led the Chargers in AVG (.386), RBI (45), and on base percentage (.462). Prior to Cypress, Reeser played for Lakewood High School where he was an All-League selection and hit .300 or better in all four years of competition. He will major in social and behavioral sciences while attending Saint Louis University.
Tylor Megill, University of Arizona- Sophomore pitcher Tylor Megill will join the National Championship Runner-up University of Arizona Wildcats next season. Megill spent his freshman year at Loyola Marymount University, where he went 6-3 as a starter before transferring to Cypress College for his sophomore season. The All-Orange Empire Conference 1st Team selection was the Chargers' ace, finishing the season with the 2nd most wins in the state (11-3). In his 17 appearances at the mound, Megill collected 87 strikeouts with a 3.72 ERA in 101.2 innings. Megill played baseball and water polo at Los Alamitos High School where he was a two-time Area Code Baseball Game participant. Megill will major in communications while attending the University of Arizona.
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