Ava Montesdeoca’s athletic goal of playing softball at the collegiate level will become a reality in the near future.

The 2025 Ceres High School grad signed a national letter of intent with Stanislaus State’s program.

“Playing college softball has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” Montesdeoca said. “I’m proud of myself for setting that goal early and sticking with it, even when things weren’t easy. Looking back, I’m proud of the journey and grateful for the opportunity to continue playing at the next level.”

Family members, friends, teammates and coaches attended Montesdeoca’s signing ceremony, which was staged on May 22 at the CHS Amphitheater.

“My parents have always believed in me and pushed me to be the best version of myself,” she said. “They’ve been my biggest supporters and made so many things possible for me. Their love and support have given me the motivation to enjoy the game and life to the fullest. I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done.”

A standout shortstop at Ceres High, Montesdeoca could log playing time at multiple positions at Stanislaus State.

“I was recruited as a utility player, so I’ll be ready to play wherever I’m needed,” she said. “I hope to make an immediate impact and play right away, but I know I’ll have to earn it just like everyone else. My focus is to play with heart and give my all every day.”

Montesdeoca’s support system will not have to travel far to watch her compete as Stanislaus State is located in Turlock.

The Warriors posted a 13-34 overall record and finished in last place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings (8-27) this past spring.

“I decided to sign with Stanislaus State because after visiting and meeting Coach Aja (Scheuber), I immediately felt welcomed,” Montesdeoca said. “I loved the connection I had with her. It felt right. Even after the visit, I kept thinking about Stan State, and deep down, I knew it was where I wanted to be. Yes, other colleges showed interest, but once I felt that connection, my decision became clear.”

Montesdeoca will major in business in college. She had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 in high school.

“The biggest challenge for me as a student-athlete was definitely balancing everything,” she said. “Learning how to manage my time and put school first was something I had to figure out along the way. There were moments I struggled, but I learned and grew from those experiences.”

A four-year standout, Montesdeoca will be remembered as one of Ceres High’s greatest softball players.

“It means a lot, and I’m honored to be thought of that way,” she said. “But I also respect the girls who came before me. They were just as great.”

“My goal throughout high school was to enjoy the game, and grow each season,” Montesdeoca added. “I’m proud of everything I accomplished and how I kept improving every year. I definitely set standards for myself and worked hard to meet them.”

Montesdeoca welcomed the challenge of playing one of the toughest positions on the field. 

Ceres High has a history of great shortstops as Montesdeoca followed in the footsteps of Sehren Martinez, Vianney Perez, Sis Bates, Jode Johnson, Meghan Franksen and Kari Abbey.

Bates (class of 2016) is currently playing professionally in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. She was a three-time NCAA Division-I All-American middle infielder at the University of Washington. Bates has represented the U.S. Women’s National Softball Team on the international stage in Italy, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Japan.

Franksen (class of 2005) was inducted into the Stanislaus State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. She played a significant role in leading the 2007 Warriors to their first-ever NCAA Division-II World Series appearance, West Region title and 50-win season. A program record holder in a host of offensive categories, Franksen was named to the NFCA All-Region Team three times and All-CCAA Team four times. She was voted 2006 CCAA Freshman of the Year.

“Honestly, I didn’t feel pressure because my coaches always helped me stay focused and confident,” Montesdeoca said. “If I made a mistake, I reminded myself to keep a positive mindset and move on to the next play. That mindset helped me a lot.”

Montesdeoca was voted the Western Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year this past spring.

She batted .609 from the plate with three home runs, seven triples, seven doubles, 30 RBIs, 41 runs and 19 stolen bases while hitting leadoff senior year.

She had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .688, 1.078 and 1.766, respectively.

Montesdeoca committed just two errors on the year en route posting a fielding percentage of .944.

“Whatever the situation was, she was going to be productive,” Bulldogs’ head coach Josie Heacox said. “I knew she was going to get the job done. She was the toughest out to get all year. That’s exactly how you can describe her as a player.”

Montesdeoca earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American recognition as a sophomore. The NFCA Second Team selection hit .605 with three homers, two triples, 10 doubles, 24 RBIs, 41 runs and 17 stolen bases.

In 94 career games, Montesdeoca batted .572 with 11 home runs, 14 triples, 31 doubles, 95 RBIs, 172 runs, 54 walks and 69 stolen bases.

She had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .640, .875 and 1.515, respectively.

Montesdeoca was selected to the WAC First Team every season. She helped Ceres High continue its winning tradition in softball.

The Bulldogs amassed a 66-36 overall record, claimed three league titles and qualified for the playoffs four times during Montesdeoca’s time with the Bulldogs. 

“I knew Ava was going to be a great player,” said Mike Corsaut, who coached Montesdeoca during her junior, sophomore and freshman years at CHS. “Her being an all-around player sets her apart from everybody else. She shares a lot of similarities with Sis when she was in high school. She can slap for a base hit. She can hit for power. She runs hard and fast. Defensively, she’s so quick to the ball. Nothing gets past her. She has a huge softball IQ. She works hard. She leads by example. Not too many girls are like her.”