Unable to play this spring due to poor weather and subsequent conflicting schedules, Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s softball teams are planning to face off next season.
The crosstown-rivals both experienced success-filled years in 2023.
The Bulldogs continued their run of excellence.
The Hawks enjoyed their best season to date.
Ceres High and Central Valley are coached by Mike Corsaut and Jimmy Bates, respectively.
Bates (class of 2014) was a multi-sport standout with the Bulldogs.
“At CHS, the tradition is already there,” Corsaut said. “I’m really happy CV is getting better. We had two league champions in one city this year. It’s a testament to the number of talented girls in our city.”
“It says a lot about the talent and depth we have in the town of Ceres,” Bates added. “At the end of the day, it’s the Ceres community.”
Central Valley accomplished a handful of firsts this year.
The Hawks compiled a program-best 19-4 overall record.
Central Valley claimed its first-ever league championship. The Hawks won the Central California Conference title outright with a near-perfect 11-1 record.
Central Valley participated in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time.
The Hawks won a team-record seven straight games prior to suffering an 8-3 loss to Tracy in the opening round of the Division-I postseason tournament.
“This season is a major step in the right direction,” Bates said. “The girls saw the results of what can happen when you play for people around you. Nobody was ever worried about stats. They just wanted to win.”
“I’m CV’s biggest fan except when they play CHS,” Corsaut added. “I want them to do well. I want both programs to be successful.”
Ceres High amassed a 15-8 overall record, finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Western Athletic Conference (11-3) and qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season.
The Bulldogs have won seven league titles in the past 10 years.
Fourteenth-seeded Ceres High cut a six-run deficit to two in the final inning before losing 6-4 to third-seeded St. Mary’s in the first round of the Division-II playoffs.
More than a half-dozen of the Bulldogs’ starters were underclassmen this year.
“To play how we played, I’m proud of the girls,” he said. “We were young. Pitching was our big question mark. Kylie (Bond) and Alize (Cole) stepped up and did a really good job. I knew we were going to score runs.”
The Hawks and Bulldogs had a combined 12 players earn all-league honors this spring.
Victoria Lloyd, Janessa Godinez, Micaela Martinez, Jannet Valencia, Gabriela Delatorre, Priscilla Hamidat and Allie Peterman were rewarded for leading Central Valley to its first league title in program history.
Lloyd was named the CCC’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Godinez, Martinez and Valencia were selected to the CCC First Team.
Delatorre and Hamidat were named to the CCC Second Team.
Peterman won Central Valley’s CCC Sportsmanship Award.
Sehren Martinez, Ava Montesdeoca, Alizae Cole, Nani Sagapolu and Kylie Bond were rewarded for leading Ceres High to a share of the WAC Crown.
Martinez, Montesdeoca and Cole were named to the WAC First Team.
Sagapolu and Bond were selected to the WAC Second Team.
“We are losing a lot of talent to graduation,” said Bates. “Those girls left a great foundation we can build upon.”
Bates, first-year leader of the Hawks, was voted CCC Coach of the Year.
Bates has two assistant coaches in Brandy Cordova and Audel Valencia.
“Timing is everything,” Bates said. “I got the opportunity to coach at the right time. I walked into a fertile situation and it blossomed into a really special season. The girls put the work in. I’m really excited about the future of CV softball. We’re going to keep competing.”
“I’m so excited about what Jimmy and his coaches are doing,” Corsaut commented. “They’re headed in the right direction. Jimmy’s done a fantastic job. He’s such a nice person. He knows the sport. He has a passion for it. That’s what the girls see.”
“I’ve been very blessed to have great role models along the way,” added Bates. “Coach (John) Bussard and (Brett) Johnson stick out to me. They were really big on building relationships and trust within our program.”
Ceres High and Central Valley will resume its crosstown rivalry next year.
The Bulldogs and Hawks will battle annually, beginning in 2024-25.
“It was a bummer we weren’t able to play this year,” Bates said. “We should play every year. I’ll be making our schedule for our softball team. Coach Corsaut will be my first phone call to get that game set up.”
“I’m going to make sure we get it scheduled,” added Corsaut.
