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Campos concludes career with Pirates
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Ceres' Jessica Campos suited up for the Modesto Junior College softball team for the final time on Wednesday. Campos and the No. 14 seed Pirates lost 1-0 at No. 3 Sierra in the first round of the state community college playoffs.

"We honestly gave it our all," said Campos, Modesto's starting third baseman.

The Pirates finished second in the Central Valley Conference at 16-5 and went 22-12 overall. Modesto hadn't been to the playoffs in seven years.

"We accomplished our goal," Campos said. "We went to the playoffs. Unfortunately, we didn't win."

Campos earned second-team, all-Central Valley Conference honors this season. She batted .295 with one homer, five doubles and nine RBIs. She also scored 10 runs and had six sacrifices.

Last year, Campos earned first-team, all-conference honors while playing shortstop.

"I'm happy I got something," Campos said. "I worked really hard at it (fielding and hitting) on and off the field. I stayed after at practice and went to my batting coach (former Ceres High softball coach Bill Evans)."

Campos wants to continue to play softball. She's studying business administration.

"She can definitely play at the next level," said Modesto coach Jessi Leveroos. "If she doesn't get offered a scholarship, she could go to anywhere she wants and walk on."

Added Campos: "I'm in the process of sending out letters and videos I have made. My dream is to play at a four-year college."

Campos shouldn't have any trouble finding any suitors. She carried a 3.8 cumulative grade point average into this semester.

"Hopefully, I can put that to use and go somewhere I want to go," said Campos, who's considering signing with Cal State Dominguez Hills or the College of Notre Dame.

Three of Campos' closest friends and teammates from high school also played for the Pirates, including pitcher Omaira Estremera, second baseman Michelle Jara and right fielder Vanessa Huerta. Estremera earned first-team, all-CVC honors.

"I'm going to miss them all so much because I played with them for so long," Campos said. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier