Central Valley's and Lathrop's varsity softball teams entered Monday's game with identical 0-8 records.
The Hawks climbed out of the Valley Oak League basement by beating the Spartans 7-2 in Ceres.
Central Valley (1-8) lost its first eight conference games by the 10-run slaughter rule.
"It feels good playing a full game," Hawks pitcher Amandah Fleming said. "It gives us confidence. I knew we could do it."
In seven innings, Fleming yielded five singles, struck out six and walked three.
Down 1-0, Central Valley scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Jessica Berndt ripped a two-run triple over the leftfielder's head.
Fleming and Ashley Sewell had one-out RBI singles.
"It took pressure off of me," Amandah said. "We were aggressive with the bats."
Central Valley tallied its final three runs in the fifth inning.
Breonna Bejaran singled to left field, advanced all the way to third on Sewell's double to center and scored on Fleming's misplayed grounder. Ashley raced home from third when Rose Moore hit a hard grounder through the left side of the infield. Amandah later scored on a wild pitch.
The Hawks committed just two errors on defense.
"Everything finally came together at the expense of a new, young team," Central Valley head coach Manny Bejaran said.
The Hawks avoided the disappointment of losing to Lathrop's first-year program.
"It crossed our minds," Fleming said. "We came out here knowing we had to win."
Central Valley will face the crosstown rival Bulldogs on Friday at Ceres High. The contest will get underway at 4 p.m. The Hawks lost the first meeting, 11-0.
The Hawks climbed out of the Valley Oak League basement by beating the Spartans 7-2 in Ceres.
Central Valley (1-8) lost its first eight conference games by the 10-run slaughter rule.
"It feels good playing a full game," Hawks pitcher Amandah Fleming said. "It gives us confidence. I knew we could do it."
In seven innings, Fleming yielded five singles, struck out six and walked three.
Down 1-0, Central Valley scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Jessica Berndt ripped a two-run triple over the leftfielder's head.
Fleming and Ashley Sewell had one-out RBI singles.
"It took pressure off of me," Amandah said. "We were aggressive with the bats."
Central Valley tallied its final three runs in the fifth inning.
Breonna Bejaran singled to left field, advanced all the way to third on Sewell's double to center and scored on Fleming's misplayed grounder. Ashley raced home from third when Rose Moore hit a hard grounder through the left side of the infield. Amandah later scored on a wild pitch.
The Hawks committed just two errors on defense.
"Everything finally came together at the expense of a new, young team," Central Valley head coach Manny Bejaran said.
The Hawks avoided the disappointment of losing to Lathrop's first-year program.
"It crossed our minds," Fleming said. "We came out here knowing we had to win."
Central Valley will face the crosstown rival Bulldogs on Friday at Ceres High. The contest will get underway at 4 p.m. The Hawks lost the first meeting, 11-0.
