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Best of the best revisited
Isaiah Hidalgo
Isaiah Hidalgo

The 2020-21 prep sports season ended in May. In today’s Courier, we recognize top players, teams and coaches from Central Valley and Ceres high schools.

Male Athlete-Central Valley’s Isaiah Hidalgo (football) and Gabrial Lopez (baseball) were both voted Western Athletic Conference South Division Most Valuable Players in their respective sports. A standout running back as a junior and sophomore, Hidalgo contributed at quarterback during his final season. He ran for 1,005 yards and 12 touchdowns on 134 carries. He passed for 189 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Hidalgo caught two passes for 52 yards. Lopez posted a perfect 7-0 record at pitcher with a 0.60 earned-run average, one no-hitter, three shutouts, six complete games, 84 strikeouts and just 18 walks.

Female Athlete-Ceres High softball star Brooklyn Heffernan was voted league Most Valuable Player for the second time in three years. The junior pitcher/outfielder was the top player in the Western Athletic Conference South Division in 2021. Heffernan posted a 10-0 record in WAC play with a 0.88 earned-run average, 118 strikeouts, seven complete games and one save. She batted .375 from the plate with one home run, one triple, seven doubles, 17 RBIs, 22 runs and four stolen bases. Heffernan had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .485, .589 and 1.074, respectively.

Male Newcomer-Erik Hott, a standout junior on Ceres High’s boys golf team, earned first-team all-conference honors. The Central Valley Christian Academy transfer won seven of eight matches in league play while filling the top spot in Ceres High’s lineup. He compiled a 1-1 record versus league MVP/Central Valley junior Matteo Bonales.

Female Newcomer-Ceres High sophomore Alysabeth Marquez was voted co-Most Valuable Player of the WAC South. She posted a near-perfect 5-1 record while filling the top spot in the Bulldogs’ lineup. Her lone loss was to co-MVP Amelia Daoheung of Central Valley.

Team-Central Valley’s football and baseball teams reached new heights. The Hawks made program history in football by compiling their first undefeated season and capturing their second conference championship. Central Valley had a perfect 5-0 overall record and placed first with a 4-0 mark in the WAC South standings. The Hawks won their first-ever league title in baseball en route to posting a 14-4 overall record. Central Valley won eight of nine games against WAC South competition.

Coach-Central Valley’s Derrick Goblirsch (football/baseball) and Ceres High’s Ron Edwards (girls golf/boys golf) guided their respective teams to success-filled seasons. The Hawks won league titles in both sports under Goblirsch’s direction. Edwards led the Bulldogs to a share of the WAC South crown (6-2) in girls golf. Ceres High didn’t field a girls golf team the previous year due to a lack of interest. Ceres High’s boys golf team also finished first in conference play (8-0).

Alysabeth Marquez
Alysabeth Marquez