Ceres High’s boys volleyball team topped Grace Davis and lost to Beyer in Western Athletic Conference play this past week.
Central Valley suffered losses while competing against Lathrop, Johansen and Beyer.
“I’m happy,” Bulldogs’ leader Kelly Heese said. “There’s been a lot of progress since the beginning of the year. We’re on track to have one of the better seasons we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
“We’ve been improving,” Hawks’ head coach Julio Madrigal stated. “We’re building our fundamental skills. We’re trying to not be predictable on offense. Players are working hard, communicating and being positive.”
Fourth-place Ceres High dropped to 8-7 overall and 5-4 in the Western Athletic Conference following Friday’s 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) loss at second-place Beyer.
The Patriots improved to 15-6 on the season and 7-1 in the WAC standings.
Brandon Moring, head coach of the Bulldogs’ junior-varsity team, filled in for Heese.
Heese spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Reno coaching the Lady Sharx 16-and-under girls volleyball club team.
“We improved from the first time we played them,” Heese stated. “The scores were more competitive.”
The Patriots bested the Bulldogs 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-21) on March 14 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Ceres High defeated Grace Davis 3-0 on Wednesday in Modesto.
The Bulldogs won the first meeting, 3-1.
“Once we locked in, we rolled from there,” Heese said.
Sixth-place Central Valley dropped to 3-14 overall and 2-6 in the WAC following Friday’s 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-17) home setback versus third-place Lathrop.
The Spartans improved to 19-6 and 7-2.
“They have an established program,” Madrigal said. “Our kids battled. They weren’t in awe this time.
Johansen exacted revenge against Central Valley with a 3-1 win on Wednesday in Ceres.
The Hawks won the first meeting, 3-0, versus the last-place Vikings (1-7).
“Johansen earned the win,” Madrigal said. “They capitalized on our errors.”
Central Valley lost 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-6) to Beyer on March 31 in Ceres.
“They’re not an easy team,” Madrigal said. “It was a good learning lesson.”
BASEBALL
Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s baseball teams kept their perfect records intact versus league competition last week.
“We’re undefeated right now,” Bulldogs’ head coach Bret Durossette said. “It’s awesome.”
“We’re right where we expected to be,” Hawks’ leader Brad Bussard stated.
Ceres High improved to 14-3 overall and 8-0 in the Western Athletic Conference standings following its two-game sweep of Grace Davis on Thursday at Art McRae Field.
The Bulldogs held on for a 10-9 win against the Spartans during the second game of the WAC series.
Ceres High collected 10 hits.
Vincent Castrejon batted 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs and three runs.
Ashton Urena batted 2-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs.
Daniel Davis batted 2-for-4 with one double and two runs.
Urena surrendered seven earned runs and nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings while improving his pitching record to 4-2.
Mario Vargas picked up the save in relief of Urena. He allowed no earned runs and one hit with three strikeouts and no walks in two innings.
Ceres High rolled to a 14-0 mercy-rule victory over Grace Davis during the first game of the WAC series.
Bulldog ace pitcher Vincent Castrejon (6-1) allowed no runs and four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
He also starred on offense.
Castrejon batted 3-for-3 from the plate with one homer, five RBIs and two runs.
Ceres High totaled 14 hits against Grace Davis.
Carson Ulrich batted 1-for-3 with one RBI and three runs.
Junior Sombrerero batted 3-for-4 with three runs.
Austin Maines batted 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Central Valley improved to 12-7 overall and 8-0 in WAC play after its two-game sweep of Johansen.
Hawk pitcher Hunter Shaw (2-0) gave up no runs and no hits with six strikeouts and no walks during Thursday’s 9-0 win against the Vikings in Modesto.
Central Valley pounded 14 hits.
Chris Garcia batted 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs.
Mason Whitworth batted 2-for-5 with one RBI and two runs.
Fernando Dominguez batted 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
The Hawks topped the Vikings 11-1 in five innings on April 1.
Central Valley starting pitcher Caden Mendonca yielded one run and three hits with nine strikeouts in three innings.
“He’s got a quality fastball and a really good curveball,” Bussard said. “He’s an athlete. He’s very even-keel on the mound.”
The Hawks totaled nine hits.
Carter Hernandez batted 2-for-3 with one double, four RBIs and one run.
Ezequiel Verduzco batted 2-for-2 with one triple, two RBIs and two runs.
Andre Flores batted 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
TRACK & FIELD
Members of Ceres High’s boys track and field team excelled while competing at the County Clash on March 28 at Oakdale High School.
The meet featured talent from Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties.
The top three placers in each were rewarded.
Jaiden Boss led the Bulldogs as he placed second in both the 110 hurdles (15.21) and 300 hurdles (41.22).
He set a personal record in the 110 hurdles.
Tre Karriem placed second in the long jump (20-51/4) and eighth in the triple jump (39-31/2).
Sergio Torres placed third in the 800 (2:06.06).
Ceres High’s 4x400 relay team of Torres, Boss, Kyle Phongsa and Cashton Almeida placed third (3:39.08).
The Bulldogs totaled 42 points while tying for fourth place with the Oakdale Mustangs and Dos Palos Broncos in the team standings.
