Ceres High’s softball program continued its winning ways under head coach Mike Corsaut’s guidance this spring.
The Bulldogs claimed their second league title in the past three seasons.
“The girls play for each other,” Corsaut said. “They don’t care about stats. They care about winning as a team.”
The Bulldogs placed first in the 2021 WAC South Division standings with a perfect 15-0 record.
Ceres High finished 16-3 on the season.
Los Banos (9-4), Central Valley (8-7), Pacheco (7-8) and Johansen (0-15) took second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
“We worked hard for it. We didn’t take any team for granted.”Brooklyn Heffernan
“I’m proud of us,” Bulldogs’ junior pitcher/outfielder Brooklyn Heffernan said. “We worked hard for it. We didn’t take any team for granted.”
“The last six games were competitive,” Corsaut added. “When we were run-ruling other teams, our girls were bored. They thrive on competition.”
Ceres High topped host Los Banos twice during the final week of the WAC season to secure the league championship.
“I knew it was going to be competitive,” Corsaut said. “They got some good players. But I always have confidence in our girls.”
The Bulldogs won the first game of the doubleheader, 2-1, on May 24.
Heffernan had a season-high 17 strikeouts and just one walk in the circle.
She allowed one unearned runs and four hits in seven innings.
Heffernan singled on offense.
Bethanie Thornberry batted 2-for-3 with one double and two runs.
Sehren Martinez batted 1-for-4 with one RBI.
Aryana Maldonado batted 2-for-3.
Cheralyn Durossette batted 1-for-3.
Tied at 1-1, Ceres High scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning.
Thornberry raced home when Cochran singled to left field.
Ceres High closed out the 2021 campaign with a 10-7 victory.
The Bulldogs tallied eight runs in the first inning.
“Everybody was scoring,” Corsaut said.
Heffernan notched her 10th victory of the season.
She gave up two earned runs and four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in four innings.
Heffernan batted 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Durossette batted 4-for-4 with two runs.
Martinez batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run.
Angelique Cochran batted 1-for-3 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.
Jaime Olvera batted 1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run.
Isabela Giraldes batted 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run.
Alayna De La Torre batted 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Celeste Leon batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Thornberry batted 1-for-4 with one run.
Durossette, Cochran and Thornberry will be lost to graduation.
Ceres High didn’t get a chance to defend its Western Athletic Conference championship in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m super grateful we got to play softball and have some fun,” Heffernan said. “At the beginning of the year, we didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Ceres High will be vying for its third conference title in four years next spring.
“It’s a great high school to play at,” Heffernan said. “There’s a little added pressure. We should be able to win WAC again. When you have a good relationship with your teammates, you play better.”
