Anthony Ramirez has been named the Courier’s Male Athlete of the Year for the spring sports season.

Lilly Blevins and Alizae Cole were chosen as co-Female Athletes of the Year.

Ramirez (Central Valley) starred in boys track and field.

Blevins (Ceres High) and Cole (Ceres High) were standouts in girls track and field and softball, respectively.

“She’s a competitor,” Bulldogs’ head coach Brett Johnson said of Blevins. “She’s very coachable. She’s a hard worker and a fun kid to be around.”

“I’m so proud of her (Cole),” Ceres High leader Mike Corsaut stated. “All of her hard work paid off. She was one of the best players on the best team.”

“Anthony is a special athlete,” Hawks’ head coach Michael Mrgudic said.

Blevins enjoyed a success-filled career with the Bulldogs. 

She leaves as one of Ceres High’s all-time greatest throwers. 

“I was just happy to be able to make a name for myself in the sport,” Blevins said. 

Blevins won the Western Athletic Conference shot put title (29-8) for the second year in a row. 

She had a perfect record against WAC competition as a senior and junior. 

She just missed securing a berth to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships after taking fourth in the discus at the Division-IV meet. She set a personal record in the event.

“I came in as a sophomore not knowing how to throw,” Blevins stated. “I ended up loving it and stuck with it. I enjoyed track so much because of the people. A lot of my teammates have been super supportive. We all encourage each other.”

Cole was voted the Western Athletic Conference’s Pitcher of the Year.

The junior also earned first-team all-league honors.

Cole compiled a 12-6 record on the season with a 2.64 earned-run average, 103 strikeouts, 38 walks, 10 complete games and one shutout in 106 innings.

“She got better as the season went on,” Corsaut said.

Cole won 12 of 13 starts with a 1.70 ERA, 86 strikeouts, nine complete games and one shutout against WAC competition.

“She was lights out,” Corsaut said.

Cole was also a major contributor on offense.

She posted a batting average of .437 on the year with one home run, three triples, four doubles, 26 RBIs, 18 runs and five stolen bases.

She had slugging and on-base percentage of .619 and .518, respectively.

She batted .556 from the plate with one home run, three triples, four doubles, 22 RBIs, 16 runs and three stolen bases in conference play.

Cole filled the stat sheet as she ranked first on the team in triples, second in homers and RBIs, third in hits, doubles, stolen bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, and fourth in batting average and runs.

She led the Bulldogs to a 14-9 overall record, first-place finish in the WAC standings (13-1) for the second year in a row and Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoff berth.

“I had confidence in her from day one,” Corsaut said. “All she had to do was put in the work.”

Ramirez enjoyed a memorable final season at Central Valley.

He set school records in the long jump (20-9) and 200 (22.83).

“I exceeded my expectations,” Ramirez stated. “My coaches helped me a lot. They’re very happy for me and how much I accomplished this year.”

Ramirez won the long jump title at the Stanislaus County Championship Meet.

He placed first in the long jump, third in the 200 and fifth in the 100 at the Central California Conference Finals.

He qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III competition in all three events.

“I did surprise myself getting all the way to Divisionals,” Ramirez said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to perform like that in track. It’s crazy seeing how amazing I was doing.”

Ramirez was a member of Central Valley’s boys track and field program for two-and-a-half years. 

His junior season was cut short due to academic struggles.

“Once he started succeeding in the classroom, his athletics took off,” Mrgudic said. “He was committed to being a student-athlete. He was mentally and physically more mature. He believed in himself. The confidence came from putting in the work.”

“I tried my hardest to get better grades so I could stay on the track team,” Ramirez added. “My coaches helped me a lot. They had my back.”