Central Valley’s baseball team made program history this spring by claiming its first-ever league title.
The Hawks won eight of nine games versus Western Athletic Conference South Division competition.
Central Valley compiled a 14-4 overall record.
The Hawks went 2-5-1 during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
“It’s definitely special,” senior outfielder Isaiah Hidalgo said. “We’ve never had a year like this.”
Central Valley closed out the 2021 season on May 25 in Ceres with a two-game sweep of Pacheco on Senior Day.
The Hawks dominated the first game, 11-0.
The contest was called after five innings on the mercy rule.
Junior Gabrial Lopez (7-0) pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out 10 with no walks. He gave up no runs and just one hit.
Ryan Estermann batted 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs and one run.
Adrian Garcia batted 1-for-1 with two RBIs and one run.
Donnie Tonelli batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Hidalgo batted 1-for-2 with two runs.
Samuel Wilson and Garret Garcia both batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Angel Vega and Sergio Solis each finished 1-for-3 with one run.
Diego Delahoya singled.
Central Valley posted a 7-3 victory over Pacheco during the second game.
Hidalgo earned his first career win while pitching for the first time at the varsity level for the Hawks.
He gave up three runs and four hits with one strikeout and two walks.
“It brought back memories from when I was younger,” Hidalgo said. “I’m pretty happy with my performance. I felt comfortable. I was confident.”
Hidalgo batted 1-for-3 from the plate with one RBI and two runs.
Wilson batted 1-for-2 with one triple, three RBIs and two runs.
Estermann batted 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one run.
Adrian Garcia knocked in one run and scored twice.
Omar Navarro chipped in with one RBI and one run.
Vega and Soli both tallied one run.
Lopez drove in a run.
Tonelli singled.
Hidalgo and fellow upperclassmen Vega, Tonelli, Solis, Navarro and Adrian Garcia suited up for the Hawks for the final time.
“Knowing that it’s our last game in high school, it’s sad,” Hidalgo said. “Most of us have played together since we were eight.”
Central Valley secured just its fourth winning season in program history this year.
The Hawks finished 17-10 in 2014, 19-9 in 2013 and 14-13 in 2009.
“This is what we expected to do,” Hidalgo said. “We got the results we wanted. We had to work hard for it. We all played for each other. We played for our coaches.”
