Central Valley’s softball team improved to a program-best 10-2 on the season and 4-0 in the Central California Conference this past week.
Ceres High moved to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.
“We’re going out there and showing everybody what we’re capable of,” said Jimmy Bates, first-year leader of the Hawks. “We’re trying to change the reputation of Central Valley softball.”
“It’s where I expected us to be,” said Coach Mike Corsaut, whose team is vying for the WAC championship, along with Los Banos and Mountain House.
Ceres High won three games in a five-day span.
The Bulldogs bounced back after losing 8-2 to the Los Banos Tigers.
Second-place Ceres High edged Grace Davis 14-11 on April 6 in Ceres.
Bulldog Alizae Cole improved her pitching record to 3-2.
She yielded four earned runs and eight hits with 10 strikeouts and five walks in 52/3 innings.
Kylie Bond recorded her first save.
She pitched 11/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Cole batted 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs and three runs.
Ava Montesdeoca batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.
Bella Bravo batted 1-for-4 with four RBIs.
Emma Johnson batted 3-for-4 with one triple, one double, one RBI and two runs.
Nani Sagapolu batted 1-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Natalie Gomes batted 0-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Tatum George batted 1-for-3 with one run.
Makenna Azevedo scored twice.
Illianna Saldana batted 1-for-3 with one double.
Ceres High bested Beyer 11-2 on April 5 in Modesto.
Bond improved her pitching record to 5-0.
She surrendered one earned run and seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
“She’s throwing really well right now,” Corsaut said. “And her teammates play really good defense behind her.”
Montesdeoca batted 3-for-5 from the plate with two doubles and three runs.
Sagapolu batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run.
Johnson batted 2-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and one run.
Sehren Martinez batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Cole batted 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Bravo batted 1-for-4 with one double and two RBIs.
Azevedo batted 1-for-4 with two runs.
Ceres High pulled away for an 11-1 victory against visiting Pacheco in five innings on April 3.
Bond totaled four strikeouts and two walks in the circle. She allowed one earned run and three hits.
Montesdeoca batted 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs and three runs.
Johnson batted 1-for-2 with one homer, two RBIs and one run.
Martinez batted 1-for-4 with two RBIs and one run.
Sagapolu batted 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run.
Cole batted 1-for-4 with one triple, one RBI and one run.
Saldana batted 1-for-2 with two runs.
Central Valley notched a pair of wins.
The Hawks held on for an 8-4 victory over the host Patterson Tigers on April 5.
“We kept the pressure on all game,” Bates said. “We found ways to have really competitive at-bats and put their defense in tough positions.”
Central Valley ace pitcher Janessa Godinez (9-1) induced a groundout to end the game.
She got out of a bases-loaded jam.
Godinez gave up two earned runs and 11 hits with three strikeouts and one walk in seven innings.
Godinez contributed on offense by scoring one run.
Micaela Martinez batted 2-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.
Victoria Lloyd batted 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Jannet Valencia batted 2-for-3 with one double and two runs.
Allie Peterman batted 2-for-4 with one double and two runs.
Priscilla Hamidat batted 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Payton McConnell knocked in one run.
The Hawks scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Central Valley defeated host Merced 12-1 in five innings on April 4.
The Hawks had a host of contributors on offense.
Lloyd batted 3-for-4 with one homer, one double, three RBIs and three runs.
Godinez batted 2-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.
Valencia batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run.
Martinez batted 1-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.
Gabriela Delatorre batted 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Adelina Sandoval batted 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
Peterman batted 1-for-3 with one run.
The Corona sisters, Jayden and Soriah, both scored once.
Hamidat drove in one run.
Godinez had five strikeouts and no walks at pitcher.
She allowed one run and three hits in five innings.
