Central Valley High School's varsity baseball team had a winning record against Ceres High last season.
The Hawks won the crosstown series, 2-1.
Ceres High, which secured the Western Athletic Conference's third and final playoff spot, finished four games ahead of fifth-place Central Valley (5-10).
The Hawks posted an 11-16 overall record.
"We definitely enjoyed beating them but at the same time it's frustrating," Central Valley head coach Greg Magni said. "Maybe we won't be the spoiler for once. We want to go to the postseason."
Central Valley, which fielded its first-ever varsity baseball team in 2007, has never qualified for the playoffs.
The Hawk will try to make history this year with a revamped roster as eight players were lost to graduation, including Scott Myatt, Chris Moscozo, Frank Hernandez, David Dart, Jeremy Lasaster, Andy Lomeli, Shaun Chisholm and Kristian Olsen.
Scott was selected to the WAC First Team. He hit .312 (25-for-80) with two homers, one triple, eight doubles, 17 RBIs and 13 runs on the season.
Chris, a second-team pick, batted .349 (29-for-83) with two triples, five doubles, 11 RBIs, 17 runs and seven stolen bases. Moscozo compiled a 5-5 record at pitcher with a 5.19 ERA, four complete games, 54 strikeouts and 31 walks over 54 innings.
Frank received honorable-mention accolades. He hit .311 (14-for-43) with four doubles, 15 RBIs and nine runs.
"We still have high expectations for ourselves," Magni said. "But we understand we have our work cut out for us."
Ruben Casas (Jr., IF/P) returns for his third season of varsity baseball. He batted .240 (18-for-75) with two homers, one triple, three doubles, 11 RBIs, 11 runs and four stolen bases as a sophomore. Casas posted an 0-2 record with a 6.30 ERA, four strikeouts and six walks in five appearances.
Ruben has drawn comparisons to former Hawk standout players Martin Gomez and Greg Guerra.
"Talent wise, he's one of our better guys," Magni said. "He's definitely committed. He plays year-round. He's still maturing as far as his
leadership role."
Other returners are Tristian Church (Sr., 1B), Jed Cundiff (Sr., C) and Alex Lomeli (Sr., 2B/P).
Central Valley's newcomers are Anthony Amirfar (Sr., 3B/1B/P), Cody Chesney (Sr., OF/2B), Fabian Valencia (Sr., IF/P), Barrett Blunt (Jr., OF), Raul Godinez (So., OF/IF/P), Jordan Justice (Jr., OF), Sidney Long (Jr., 2B/OF), Juan Plasencia (Jr., OF), Jeff Reeves (Jr., 3B/P), Jacob Smith (Jr., C) and Michael Ereso (So., 1B/P).
Justice, Lomeli, Plasencia and Reeves suited up for Central Valley's junior-varsity team last season.
Amirfar and Godinez transferred from Ceres High.
Raul played a major role while leading the Bulldogs' JV squad to a 20-8 record and second-place finish in the WAC standings (14-4). Godinez hit .296 with 21 RBIs, 25 runs and 16 stolen bases.
Casas and Lomeli will be Central Valley's No. 1 and 2 starting pitchers, respectively.
Valencia, Ereso and Reeves will also contribute on the mound.
The Hawks will face Ceres High, Central Catholic, Livingston, Patterson, Los Banos and Pacheco twice during WAC play.
The top three teams advance to the postseason.
Central Catholic earned the conference's No. 1 seed for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV playoffs last year. Los Banos placed second.
"We're hoping to make some noise and be in the equation," Magni said. "I really like this group of kids. They work hard."
The Hawks won the crosstown series, 2-1.
Ceres High, which secured the Western Athletic Conference's third and final playoff spot, finished four games ahead of fifth-place Central Valley (5-10).
The Hawks posted an 11-16 overall record.
"We definitely enjoyed beating them but at the same time it's frustrating," Central Valley head coach Greg Magni said. "Maybe we won't be the spoiler for once. We want to go to the postseason."
Central Valley, which fielded its first-ever varsity baseball team in 2007, has never qualified for the playoffs.
The Hawk will try to make history this year with a revamped roster as eight players were lost to graduation, including Scott Myatt, Chris Moscozo, Frank Hernandez, David Dart, Jeremy Lasaster, Andy Lomeli, Shaun Chisholm and Kristian Olsen.
Scott was selected to the WAC First Team. He hit .312 (25-for-80) with two homers, one triple, eight doubles, 17 RBIs and 13 runs on the season.
Chris, a second-team pick, batted .349 (29-for-83) with two triples, five doubles, 11 RBIs, 17 runs and seven stolen bases. Moscozo compiled a 5-5 record at pitcher with a 5.19 ERA, four complete games, 54 strikeouts and 31 walks over 54 innings.
Frank received honorable-mention accolades. He hit .311 (14-for-43) with four doubles, 15 RBIs and nine runs.
"We still have high expectations for ourselves," Magni said. "But we understand we have our work cut out for us."
Ruben Casas (Jr., IF/P) returns for his third season of varsity baseball. He batted .240 (18-for-75) with two homers, one triple, three doubles, 11 RBIs, 11 runs and four stolen bases as a sophomore. Casas posted an 0-2 record with a 6.30 ERA, four strikeouts and six walks in five appearances.
Ruben has drawn comparisons to former Hawk standout players Martin Gomez and Greg Guerra.
"Talent wise, he's one of our better guys," Magni said. "He's definitely committed. He plays year-round. He's still maturing as far as his
leadership role."
Other returners are Tristian Church (Sr., 1B), Jed Cundiff (Sr., C) and Alex Lomeli (Sr., 2B/P).
Central Valley's newcomers are Anthony Amirfar (Sr., 3B/1B/P), Cody Chesney (Sr., OF/2B), Fabian Valencia (Sr., IF/P), Barrett Blunt (Jr., OF), Raul Godinez (So., OF/IF/P), Jordan Justice (Jr., OF), Sidney Long (Jr., 2B/OF), Juan Plasencia (Jr., OF), Jeff Reeves (Jr., 3B/P), Jacob Smith (Jr., C) and Michael Ereso (So., 1B/P).
Justice, Lomeli, Plasencia and Reeves suited up for Central Valley's junior-varsity team last season.
Amirfar and Godinez transferred from Ceres High.
Raul played a major role while leading the Bulldogs' JV squad to a 20-8 record and second-place finish in the WAC standings (14-4). Godinez hit .296 with 21 RBIs, 25 runs and 16 stolen bases.
Casas and Lomeli will be Central Valley's No. 1 and 2 starting pitchers, respectively.
Valencia, Ereso and Reeves will also contribute on the mound.
The Hawks will face Ceres High, Central Catholic, Livingston, Patterson, Los Banos and Pacheco twice during WAC play.
The top three teams advance to the postseason.
Central Catholic earned the conference's No. 1 seed for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV playoffs last year. Los Banos placed second.
"We're hoping to make some noise and be in the equation," Magni said. "I really like this group of kids. They work hard."
