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CHS softball teams sweep Vikings
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Junior pitcher Jennifer Arnold gave up just one hit, struck out 11 batters and walked none in leading the Ceres High varsity softball team to a 2-0 win over Johansen on Thursday in Ceres.

"She threw a great game against a great team," said Ceres coach Mike Corsaut. "A team that's going to challenge for the MMC title."

Karla Alvarez broke up Arnold's bid for a perfect game with a single to center field in the top of the fifth inning.

"She gave up that hit after she got drilled by a line drive in the hip," Corsaut said.

Heidi Eisenbeis went 2-for-3 from the plate with a triple and RBI, Meghan Franksen doubled and scored a run, Heather Russell singled and drove in a run and Crystal Goblirsch singled and scored once for Ceres, which improved to 6-0-1 overall, 1-0 in the Modesto Metro Conference.

Brianna Wigley had seven strikeouts and two walks in six innings for Johansen, which fell to 3-4 overall, 1-1 in the MMC standings. Both of the runs Wigley allowed were unearned.

"You got to capitalize on other team's mistakes," Corsaut said. "And we did that today."

Added Johansen coach Jamie Smith: "If we would have hit the ball it wouldn't have come down to that."

The Bulldogs scored both of their runs off an error in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Goblirsch, Ceres' ninth hitter, drew a leadoff walk. She moved to third on Franksen's double down the right-field line and scored on Alvarez's blunder.

Alvarez, Johansen's third baseman, fielded Eisenbeis' hard grounder and threw wide to first baseman Shanel Cannon.

Russell, Ceres' cleanup hitter, followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Franksen from third.

"Crystal's at-bat was huge," Corsaut said.

So was Arnold's near-perfect performance. She fanned the final three batters she faced.

Ghimenti guides JV Dawgs

The Ceres High JV softball team shut out Johansen 5-0 in Modesto Metro Conference play on Thursday in Ceres.

Sophomore pitcher Kristen Ghimenti allowed just one hit, fanned 13 batters and walked none for the Bulldogs, who improved to 5-2-1 overall, 1-1 in the MMC standings.

"Probably the best performance of the year," said Ceres coach Steve Pierce. "She had great control. She had good velocity. All of her pitches were working."

Ghimenti came within three outs of a perfect game. She retired all 18 batters she faced before allowing an infield single in the top of the seventh inning. Ghimenti knocked down a line drive with her glove but failed to throw out the runner at first base.

Ceres had four hits in the game.

Kadee Moniz had an RBI double. Ghimenti and Marinna Aguilar both singled, scored a run and collected an RBI. Amber Allen scored two runs. Kristen Venema had an RBI single. Jessica Augsbury scored one run.

The Bulldogs tallied one run in the third inning, and two in both the fourth and fifth innings. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier