By Adam Maya | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: June 7, 2013 at 7:49 p.m.

Cypress coach John Weber said he will never be the same. Not after the blood lost in previous postseason failures, the sweat poured out by his players and the tears shed from their championship run.

The day before Cypress faced Temecula Valley in the CIF-SS Division 2 final at Dodger Stadium, Weber pulled aside his seniors at practice and told them as much.

“I wanted to thank each and every one of them for what they had done for me,” Weber said.

“I feel like I’ve grown immensely through their leadership, their ups and downs. We talked about some of the hurdles (they had) and I had. … It was a great moment for me to be able to do that.

“I feel like I’m a totally different coach today than I was four years ago.”

The proof was in the playoff pudding. Cypress, after losing in the second round in five of the past seven seasons, with all five defeats on the road, claimed the Division 2 crown in 2013. And the Centurions did so by winning the final three games away from home.

Weber prepared his players for that grueling postseason stretch by not scheduling a home game all season. Cypress played just 11 of its 34 games on its campus, each one mandated by league play, tournament or playoff scheduling.

It was one of many successful moves Weber made on his way to being named Orange County baseball coach of the year. The eight-year coach said it was far from a singular accomplishment.

He credited pitching coaches George Carralejo and Bill Slevcove for providing a “yin and yang” to a cerebral staff.

Infield coach Mark Steinert, whose track record includes several major league draft picks, guided arguably the county’s best infield defense. The idea to not play home games originated from outfield coach Steve Fullerton.

“I’m the guy getting all the accolades, but this goes beyond me, that’s for sure,” Weber said. “My assistant coaches are invaluable.”

Cypress finished 26-8 and won the Empire League title on the final day of the regular season. Weber called playing on the final day of the postseason “every coach’s dream.”

Then a championship came true.