The members of Central Valley's varsity softball team were in a jovial mood prior to the start of last Wednesday's home game against crosstown-rival Ceres High.

The visiting Bulldogs continued their run of success versus the Hawks with a comfortable 6-1 victory.

Ceres High improved its all-time record against Central Valley to 23-0.

The Hawks had two wins in Western Athletic Conference play before facing the Bulldogs.

Ceres High had just one victory.

Central Valley edged Pacheco 2-1, while the Bulldogs were beaten 4-2 by the Panthers.

"We came in a little too confident," Hawks' sophomore pitcher Scarlett Lloyd said. "We were higher in the standings in league. We got in our own heads."

Said Bulldogs' junior catcher Branda Villalpando: "We all worked hard and got what we wanted. We kept the streak going."

Added Ceres High head coach Ashley Nicolich: "They didn't want it as much as we did."

Lloyd tallied 10 strikeouts and no walks in losing to the Bulldogs.

She allowed six runs-four earned-and seven hits over seven innings.

"She's a great pitcher," Nicolich said. "But we hit off her at the right moments."
Bulldog pitcher Rebecca DeLeon gave up one run and six hits with three strikeouts and one walk while going the distance.

Ceres High grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, added two runs in the third, one in the fifth and two more in the seventh.

"They were super hyped up at the practice the day before," Nicolich said. "They were super focused for the game. They never want to lose to them because they're our crosstown rivals."

Isabel Vizcaino singled to right field, stole second and scored from third on a passed ball in the second inning.

In the third inning, Andrea Duran led off the third inning with a single to right-center field and advanced all the way to third on Vianney Perez's single to right. Duran and Perez raced home when Villalpando laced a single up the middle.

DeLeon doubled to center, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Villalpando's single to right in the fifth inning.

"My bat hasn't been that hot," said Branda, who collected three RBIs and one intentional walk while leading the Bulldogs past the Hawks. "I came through today."

Priscilla Chavez doubled to the center-field fence, advanced to third on DeLeon's groundout and scored on Perez's single to center in the seventh inning. Cheralyn Durossette knocked in Perez from second with a single to center.

"They have a lot of good players," Lloyd said.

Central Valley prevented the shutout by tallying its lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Isabella Pelayo singled to right with one out, advanced to second on Brianna Quiroz's groundout, moved to third on Lloyd's single and scored on older sister Nayeli Pelayo's hit.

"It wasn't as bad as it could have been," Lloyd said. "At least we scored."