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CHS beats LB twice, remains in first-place tie in WAC standings with CC
CV earns two wins
jbates.tiff
Ceres High third baseman Jimmy Bates throws out a Los Banos runner. Bates and the Bulldogs beat the Tigers twice in league play this past week. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Ceres High School's varsity baseball team remained in a tie for first place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with Central Catholic after topping Los Banos twice this past week.

The Bulldogs extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 6-0 victory over the Tigers on Thursday at Art McRae Field.

Ceres High improved to 15-3 on the year and 8-0 in the WAC standings.

Los Banos dropped to 7-6 and 2-4.

"We got our priorities straight," Bulldogs head coach John Bussard said. "We got a great group of kids that have worked very hard."

Ceres High junior pitcher Brad Bussard improved his record to 7-0 and lowered his earned run average to 0.32.

Bussard allowed no runs and two hits with five strikeouts and one walk while tossing his fifth complete game.

He's surrendered just two runs in 432/3 innings this year.
The Bulldogs collected nine hits against Los Banos.

Bussard batted 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one double.

Dylan Canatsy batted 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.

Brandon Machado batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

Izaiah Hernandez batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Merrik Price batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Brett Conway batted 1-for-2 with one double and one run.

Alan Marquez batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Ceres High committed just one error on defense.

The Bulldogs tallied three runs in the bottom of the second inning, and one in the fourth, fifth and sixth.

Ceres High scored three times in the top of the fourth inning and held on for a 5-4 victory at Los Banos on Tuesday, April 8.

The Bulldogs won despite committing a season-high five errors.

"At this point in the season, it doesn't matter how you win," John Bussard said.

Ceres High had nine different players collect at least one hit versus the Tigers.

Marquez, who also doubled as the Bulldogs' pitcher, batted 3-for-3 with one double, one RBI and one run.

Conway batted 1-for-3 with one double, one RBI and one run.

Hernandez batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

Price batted 1-for-2 with one double and one RBI.
Machado batted 1-for-4 with one RBI.

Canatsy and Jimmy Bates both batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Marquez (5-0) remained unbeaten on the year.

He also lowered his ERA to 1.20.

Alan tallied seven strikeouts and just one walk.

He allowed four runs and two hits.

Ceres High has won 18 of its last 20 WAC games dating back to last season.

"This is the best team I've coached in 24 years," coach Bussard said. "Our confidence is very high right now."

The Bulldogs will face winless Pacheco (0-8) on Thursday in Los Banos at 4 p.m.
Hawks bounce back
Central Valley High School's varsity baseball team managed to score just twice while losing back-to-back games to crosstown-rival Ceres High.

The Bulldogs improved their all-time record the Hawks in league play to 11-6.

Central Valley bounced back by sweeping Pacheco this past week.

"On Monday, they showed up focused knowing we needed two wins," Hawks head coach Derrick Goblirsch said. "They had two really good practices."

Third-place Central Valley improved to 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the WAC.

The Panthers dropped to 3-11 and 0-8.

"I was a little nervous," Goblirsch said. "They responded well. We had great pitching and defense. And we scored enough runs to get by. I'm happy with where we are at right now. We're in a good spot. We're in control of our own future."

Raul Godinez tossed a complete game three-hitter while leading Central Valley past Pacheco, 1-0, on April 8 in Ceres.

Godinez tallied 12 strikeouts and just one walk over seven innings.

"He's been pitching well all year," Goblirsch said. "We finally played good defense behind him."

Central Valley blanked Pacheco, 6-0, on Thursday in Los Banos.

Hawk southpaw Michael Ereso yielded no runs and five hits with four strikeouts and four walks in six innings.

Central Valley will play host to winless Livingston (0-6) this Thursday at 4 p.m.