Ceres High School's varsity softball team had its streak of consecutive playoff appearances snapped at 24 seasons in 2010.
The Bulldogs opened the 2011 Western Athletic Conference campaign on Tuesday, March 22 with a 7-0 win over crosstown-rival Central Valley.
Ceres High improved its all-time record against the Hawks to 9-0.
"I don't want to let this streak go," Bulldogs junior pitcher Kaycee Creek said.
Central Valley first baseman Jessica Berndt has been on losing side seven times since joining the varsity team as a freshman in 2008. Creek's teams have a 5-0 record versus the Hawks.
"It would be nice to win because it's my last year," Berndt said. "I think we have a chance next time we play them if everyone wants it. We just need to have more confidence in ourselves."
The Bulldogs improved to 5-2-1 overall and 1-0 in the WAC.
The Hawks dropped 2-8 and 0-2.
Creek pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts and just three walks.
She also homered and drove in two runs in three at-bats.
Ceres High leadoff batter Ryan Norton almost hit for the cycle. She collected a triple, a double, a single and one RBI.
Cierra Hammons had a triple and two RBIs. She also walked and got hit by a pitch once.
Central Valley's Vicky Ochoa and freshman Lexy Cordova split time at pitcher.
Ochoa replaced Cordova with no outs and two runners on base in the bottom of the first inning. Vicky retired three straight batters, including two by strikeout and one via flyout.
"She did a good job," Bulldogs head coach Donnie Donaldson said.
Ochoa struck out three with four walks and two hit batsmen in six innings.
Cordova and Malynda Lomeli accounted for Central Valley's two hits on offense.
Lexy doubled in the second inning.
Malynda singled in the sixth inning.
Creek blasted her third homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning. Her two-run shot sailed over the center-field fence and increased the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0.
"I knew as soon as I hit it it was gone," she said. "It felt really good because she struck me out before that."
Ceres High freshman Camrynn Broumas had an RBI double in the first inning. She drove in Norton, who led off with a triple.
Hammons' triple scored Alexis Cummings and Cassandra Carrillo in the third inning. Cummings and Carrillo walked and reached on an error.
Norton plated Nicolette Mendes and later scored on a throwing error.
Ceres High played mistake-free defense.
Taiylor Sakurada solidified the Bulldogs' infield. She moved from second base to shortstop.
Cummings, Broumas and Jessica Ellsworth started at first, second and third, respectively.
Ceres High's outfield featured Mendes (left), Norton (center) and Carrillo (right).
"We didn't make any errors," Donaldson said. "That's big."
The rematch will take place on April 14.
"Our goal is to win league, not just beat Central Valley," Donaldson said. "This is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, we can keep it going."
Corsaut, Borden propel CHS
Ceres High School's junior-varsity softball team pounded crosstown-rival Central Valley 23-2 in Western Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, March 22.
"We didn't lose sight of what we needed to do," Bulldogs pitcher Tessa Corsaut said. "Everybody did their job. We kept focused."
Ceres High improved to 3-6 on the year and 2-0 in the WAC.
The Hawks dropped to 0-2 in the league standings.
The host Bulldogs blew the contest open in the bottom of the second inning. Ceres High batted 25 times, collected six hits, drew 12 walks and capitalized on two errors while tallying a mind-boggling 20 runs.
"We took care of business early, then relaxed," Bulldogs catcher Dia Borden said. "It was so fun. I thought it was going to be a competitive game."
Borden led the way on offense with three hits, five RBIs and four runs.
Ariana Mata collected one hit, four RBIs, two runs and two walks.
Issabella Saldana had one hit, three RBIs an two runs.
Whitney Oliveira drove in two runs and walked three times.
Laura Story chipped in with one hit and four runs.
Brooke Anderson added two runs and three walks.
Corsaut scored twice.
Tessa allowed just one hit and tallied six strikeouts while pitching.
"I do what I need to do and let my defense make plays behind me," she said.
The rivalry game was called in the third inning when the two-hour time limit was reached.
The Bulldogs opened the 2011 Western Athletic Conference campaign on Tuesday, March 22 with a 7-0 win over crosstown-rival Central Valley.
Ceres High improved its all-time record against the Hawks to 9-0.
"I don't want to let this streak go," Bulldogs junior pitcher Kaycee Creek said.
Central Valley first baseman Jessica Berndt has been on losing side seven times since joining the varsity team as a freshman in 2008. Creek's teams have a 5-0 record versus the Hawks.
"It would be nice to win because it's my last year," Berndt said. "I think we have a chance next time we play them if everyone wants it. We just need to have more confidence in ourselves."
The Bulldogs improved to 5-2-1 overall and 1-0 in the WAC.
The Hawks dropped 2-8 and 0-2.
Creek pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts and just three walks.
She also homered and drove in two runs in three at-bats.
Ceres High leadoff batter Ryan Norton almost hit for the cycle. She collected a triple, a double, a single and one RBI.
Cierra Hammons had a triple and two RBIs. She also walked and got hit by a pitch once.
Central Valley's Vicky Ochoa and freshman Lexy Cordova split time at pitcher.
Ochoa replaced Cordova with no outs and two runners on base in the bottom of the first inning. Vicky retired three straight batters, including two by strikeout and one via flyout.
"She did a good job," Bulldogs head coach Donnie Donaldson said.
Ochoa struck out three with four walks and two hit batsmen in six innings.
Cordova and Malynda Lomeli accounted for Central Valley's two hits on offense.
Lexy doubled in the second inning.
Malynda singled in the sixth inning.
Creek blasted her third homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning. Her two-run shot sailed over the center-field fence and increased the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0.
"I knew as soon as I hit it it was gone," she said. "It felt really good because she struck me out before that."
Ceres High freshman Camrynn Broumas had an RBI double in the first inning. She drove in Norton, who led off with a triple.
Hammons' triple scored Alexis Cummings and Cassandra Carrillo in the third inning. Cummings and Carrillo walked and reached on an error.
Norton plated Nicolette Mendes and later scored on a throwing error.
Ceres High played mistake-free defense.
Taiylor Sakurada solidified the Bulldogs' infield. She moved from second base to shortstop.
Cummings, Broumas and Jessica Ellsworth started at first, second and third, respectively.
Ceres High's outfield featured Mendes (left), Norton (center) and Carrillo (right).
"We didn't make any errors," Donaldson said. "That's big."
The rematch will take place on April 14.
"Our goal is to win league, not just beat Central Valley," Donaldson said. "This is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, we can keep it going."
Corsaut, Borden propel CHS
Ceres High School's junior-varsity softball team pounded crosstown-rival Central Valley 23-2 in Western Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, March 22.
"We didn't lose sight of what we needed to do," Bulldogs pitcher Tessa Corsaut said. "Everybody did their job. We kept focused."
Ceres High improved to 3-6 on the year and 2-0 in the WAC.
The Hawks dropped to 0-2 in the league standings.
The host Bulldogs blew the contest open in the bottom of the second inning. Ceres High batted 25 times, collected six hits, drew 12 walks and capitalized on two errors while tallying a mind-boggling 20 runs.
"We took care of business early, then relaxed," Bulldogs catcher Dia Borden said. "It was so fun. I thought it was going to be a competitive game."
Borden led the way on offense with three hits, five RBIs and four runs.
Ariana Mata collected one hit, four RBIs, two runs and two walks.
Issabella Saldana had one hit, three RBIs an two runs.
Whitney Oliveira drove in two runs and walked three times.
Laura Story chipped in with one hit and four runs.
Brooke Anderson added two runs and three walks.
Corsaut scored twice.
Tessa allowed just one hit and tallied six strikeouts while pitching.
"I do what I need to do and let my defense make plays behind me," she said.
The rivalry game was called in the third inning when the two-hour time limit was reached.
