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A season full of accomplishments
Hawks, Bulldogs generate memories from spring sports
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Central Valley High Schools varsity boys tennis program reached new heights under head coach Mike Rodriguezs guidance. The Hawks advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time, compiled a 9-6 overall record and placed third in the WAC standings (9-4). - photo by Contributed to the Courier

The spring sports season was filled with many highlights. Now's the perfect time to recollect and celebrate.

Top male athlete: Ceres High freshman Nolan McCaig brought home a second-place medal from the Sac-Joaquin
Section Division-II Varsity Boys Tennis Championships. McCaig compiled a 3-1 record on his way to a runner-up finish. Nolan (30-1) lost just one match this year. He posted a perfect 13-0 record en route to capturing the Western Athletic Conference singles crown. McCaig and Bulldog teammate Julio Ochoa were voted WAC co-MVPs.
Top female athlete: Competing at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Varsity Girls Track & Field Championships for the third year in a row, Central Valley High school junior Heaven Simon placed 11th in the 300 hurdles (45.84). Simon, Emerald Gutierrez, Mikayla Mabie and Sherlyn Hernandez, the Hawks' 4x100 relay team, finished 23rd in a personal-record time (50.94). Heaven set a PR while taking first in the 300 hurdles at Divisionals. Central Valley's 4x100 relay team was fifth. Simon won the 300 hurdles (48.53) and 400 (1:04.68) at the Western Athletic Conference Finals. She also ran a leg on the Hawks' winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

Male newcomer: A role player on Ceres High's varsity baseball team as a junior, Alan Marquez elevated his level of play en route to claiming the Western Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player award during his final season with the Bulldogs. Marquez compiled a conference-best 5-0 record at pitcher. He ranked second in ERA (1.98) and third in strikeouts (25). He also led the WAC in batting average (.594), slugging percentage (.750) and on-base percentage (.698). Alan collected one triple, three doubles, eight RBIs and 11 runs.

Female newcomer: Freshman Julia Pata swept the 50 free and 100 free at the Western Athletic Conference Varsity Girls Swim Finals. She didn't lose an individual race while competing against upperclassmen during the conference season. Pata placed seventh in the 100 free and 17th in the 50 free at the Sac-Joaquin Section Frosh-Soph Championships.

Team: Ceres High's varsity boys tennis, baseball and softball programs all had memorable seasons. Ceres High's boys tennis team compiled a 29-1 overall record, advanced to the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II playoffs and won its third straight Western Athletic Conference crown (12-0). Ceres High's baseball team made history by winning its first conference title since 1991. The Bulldogs (23-7, 11-1) shared the WAC title with eight-time champion Central Catholic. Ceres High also secured its fourth consecutive postseason berth. Ceres High's softball team (21-6, 12-0) won the WAC championship with an unblemished record. The Bulldogs placed fourth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Championships.

Coach: Central Valley's varsity boys tennis team enjoyed its most successful season to date under head coach Mike Rodriguez's guidance. The Hawks qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time, posted a 9-6 overall record and finished third in the Western Athletic Conference standings (9-4).

Game: Ceres High School's varsity baseball team bounced back in a big way following its 11-6 extra-inning home loss to defending Western Athletic Conference champion Central Catholic. The Bulldogs captured a share of the WAC title with a 10-0 mercy-rule road victory over the Raiders.

Individual performance: Ceres High's varsity baseball team needed to beat Central Catholic on the final day of the regular season to make history. Dylan Canatsy started in place of undefeated pitcher Brad Bussard, who was limited to offense and defense because of arm soreness. The senior southpaw allowed no runs and three hits with two strikeouts and three walks as the Bulldogs blasted the Raiders by the mercy rule, 10-0.

Honorable mention: Ceres High's Brad Bussard (baseball), Brett Conway (baseball), Jimmy Bates (baseball), Julio Ochoa (boys tennis), Alick Liang (boys tennis), Chase Harden (boys tennis), Rene Cortes (boys tennis), Dominic Durossette (boys golf), Andre Torres (boys golf), Zachary Jones (boys swimming), Erik Weststeyn (boys swimming), Ciana Sather (girls swimming), Kiera Brownlee (girls swimming), Lindsey Reedy (girls swimming), Tomas Rocha (boys track and field), Tristan Dray (boys track and field), Judas Chavarin (boys track and field), Kevin Moita (boys track and field), Austin Stiles (boys track and field), Gykisha Smith (girls track and field), Azia Brewster (girls track and field), Nicole Bates (softball), Kaytlin Donaldson (softball), Mahlena O'Neal (softball), Megan McCormick (softball), Rayohna Sagapolu (softball), Arcelia Hermosillo (girls soccer) and Gisselle Madrigal (girls soccer), and Central Valley's Emely Amaya (girls soccer), Rocio Beltran (girls soccer), Evelyn Andrade (girls soccer), Lexy Cordova (softball), Sarah McElroy (softball), Raul Godinez (baseball), Kendel Johnson (baseball), Ja'Quan Gardner (boys track and field), Alex Vazquez (boys track and field), Angelo Bermudez (boys track and field), Jose Uribe (boys track and field), Kenneth Padilla (boys track and field), Sherlyn Hernandez (girls track and field), Emerald Gutierrez (girls track and field), Mikayla Mabie (girls track and field), Kristie Del Valle (girls track and field), Alexis Zigala (boys tennis), Edgar Castillo (boys tennis) and Anthony Bonales (boys golf).