Central Valley’s youth-laden softball team kept its slim playoff hopes alive this past week.
The Hawks improved to 8-13 overall and climbed to fifth place in Central California Conference standings at 3-5 after cruising to a 16-8 victory over host El Capitan on Friday.
“This week is pivotal,” Central Valley head coach Jimmy Bates said. “We need to win out and get some help. We have to take care of business.”
The Hawks broke out of an offensive slump versus the last-place Gauchos, who dropped to 0-10 overall and 0-9 in the CCC.
Central Valley freshman Brooklynn Steeley improved her pitching record to 7-9.
She yielded seven earned runs and nine hits with two strikeouts and one walk in five innings.
Steeley helped her own cause by batting 3-for-4 from the plate with three doubles, four RBIs and two runs.
Gabriela Delatorre batted 3-for-5 with one homer, one double, four RBIs and two runs.
Valerie Espinoza batted 3-for-4 with one RBI and three runs.
Jannet Valencia batted 2-for-5 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.
Payton McConnell batted 2-for-2 with one double, one RBI and two runs.
Priscilla Hamidat batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.
Reylena Herrera collected one RBI and one run.
Abigail Krauss and Valeria Padilla each scored once.
“Our bats came back alive,” said Bates. “We haven’t scored like that in a couple weeks. We’ve been focusing more on hitting at practice.”
The Hawks snapped a five-game losing streak last week.
“We went through a stretch where we were in games and couldn’t find a way to get over the hump. That’s part of we’re still learning to play together. We have a young group.”
Central Valley will play three times this week.
The Hawks will travel to Atwater today to face sixth-place Buhach Colony (9-11, 2-7) twice.
The two teams will finish the first game of the series which was suspended on March 27 due to rain. Central Valley held a 7-4 lead.
The second game will be staged after a 15-minute break.
Central Valley will play fourth-place Golden Valley (9-12, 5-4) on Senior Day this Friday in Ceres.
The game will begin at 4 p.m.
“We owe it to our seniors to finish the season out strong no matter what our situation is."
Dawgs outslug opponents
Ceres High’s softball team remained in the hunt for the Western Athletic Conference title last week after besting Pacheco and Johansen by a combined score of 36-1.
“Those are two games we should have won and did,” Bulldogs’ head coach Mike Corsaut said.
Ceres High improved to 11-8 on the year and stayed in a first-place tie atop the WAC standings with Los Banos at 10-1 following Thursday’s 10-0 five-inning rout of Pacheco in Ceres.
“The girls did a good job of taking care of business,” Corsaut said.
The Bulldogs collected nine hits against the Panthers.
Alizae Cole batted 2-for-3 from the plate with one double and four RBIs.
Isabela Giraldes batted 2-for-3 with one double, one RBI and two runs.
Elizabeth Figueroa batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and two runs.
Bella Bravo batted 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run.
Illianna Saldana batted 1-for-1 with one RBI and two runs.
Kyleigh Robinson batted 1-for-3 with one double and one run.
Ava Montesdeoca and Maddie Schultz both scored once.
Kylie Bond drove in one run.
Ceres High pounded 18 hits en route to posting a 26-1 victory over Johansen in five innings on April 23 in Modesto.
“The girls crushed the ball,” said Corsaut.
Nani Sagapolu batted 5-for-5 from the plate with one double, seven RBIs and three runs.
Giraldes batted 3-for-4 with one double, three RBIs and three runs.
Montesdeoca batted 1-for-1 with one double, one RBI, four runs and four walks.
Cole batted 1-for-3 with one triple, one RBI and four runs.
Bravo batted 3-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.
Figueroa batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and two runs.
Robinson batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run.
Calista Mann batted 2-for-2 with one RBI.
Saldana and Gabriela Ortiz chipped in with two runs apiece.
Schultz singled and scored once.
Bond and Tatiana Ortiz both tallied one run.
The Bulldogs totaled 27 hits this past week.
“The girls hit the ball like they’re supposed to do."
Cole improved her pitching record to 9-5 and lowered her earned-run average to 2.92.
She allowed two hits and no earned runs with 19 strikeouts and two walks during her two starts.
“Alizae threw well,” Corsaut commented. “She’s gotten better as the season has gone on.”
The Bulldogs had three games left on their schedule as of Monday.
Ceres High will play host to second-place Mountain House (18-6, 9-2) on Thursday at 4 p.m.
“This week is huge. It determines the league champion.”
