Ceres High’s softball team improved its all-time record versus crosstown-rival Central Valley to 28-0 last week.
The shorthanded Bulldogs beat the Hawks twice in Western Athletic Conference play.
“We only had nine girls for both games,” Ceres High head coach Mike Corsaut said. “We were missing five starters because of COVID protocols. We pulled up two girls from JV. We got a soccer player (Aaliyah Ruiz) to play for us. She had her physical and was eligible to play.”
Ceres High improved to 11-3 overall and 10-0 in the WAC.
Central Valley dropped to 4-6 in league play.
“We’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” said Corsaut, whose team claimed the WAC title in 2019 and would have most likely repeated in 2020 if the season wasn’t canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bulldogs won the first game of the doubleheader, 13-0 in five innings, versus the Hawks on May 10 at Ceres High.
Ceres High pitcher Brooklyn Heffernan allowed just two hits and tallied nine strikeouts.
Cheralyn Durossette led the way on offense, batting 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs.
Megan Yorba batted 2-for-3 with one double and four RBIs.
Isabela Giraldes batted 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs.
Sehren Martinez batted 2-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.
Angelique Cochran collected one RBI and one run.
Ruiz and Makenna Azevedo both scored twice.
Emma Johnson had one single and one run.
Heffernan added one run.
Sammy Espinoza (double) and Allie Peterman (single) accounted for the Hawks’ two hits.
Ceres High scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning and six more in the third to break the game open.
“The bottom of the lineup set the table for the top of the lineup,” Corsaut said.
Central Valley put a major scare into the Ceres High during the second game.
The Hawks threatened in the final inning before losing 5-3 to the Bulldogs.
“It could have gone either way,” Corsaut said.
Down 5-3, Central Valley threatened in the top of the seventh inning.
Peterman and Jannet Valencia both singled.
With no outs in the inning, Heffernan induced a double play and an infield popout to end the game.
“I had butterflies in my stomach,” Corsaut said.
Yorba was the winning pitcher.
She allowed two earned runs and eight hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in six innings.
Heffernan earned the save.
Yorba batted 2-for-3 from the plate with one RBI and one run.
Heffernan batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Giraldes batted 2-for-3 with two runs.
Durossette batted 2-for-3 with one run.
Johnson batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Martinez batted 1-for-4 with one RBI.
Central Valley collected 10 hits.
Victoria Lloyd batted 2-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and one run.
Peterman batted 3-for-3 with one double and one walk.
Gabby Benanati batted 2-for-4.
Espinoza batted 1-for-3 with one run.
Janessa Godinez batted 1-for-4 with one run.
Godinez also contributed at pitcher.
She gave up three earned runs and nine hits with two strikeouts and one walk in six innings.
Ceres High compiled a 3-0 record against Central Valley this season.
The Bulldogs shut out the Hawks, 10-0, on April 21.
“It’s hard to beat any team three times,” Corsaut said. “Central Valley is getting better every year. I root for them when we’re not playing them.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Ceres High’s girls soccer team secured another win against Johansen.
The Bulldogs beat the Vikings for a second time in Western Athletic Conference play last week.
Ceres High topped Johansen 4-1 on May 12 in Modesto.
The Bulldogs won the first meeting, 3-0.
“They were more aggressive,” Menk said. “We were not expecting that.”
Second-place Ceres High improved to 5-1-0 in the WAC standings.
“I was expecting us to be good,” Menk said. “But I was a little nervous because we didn’t have a true goalie. The freshmen and sophomores have really stepped up. It’s fun to be able to see them develop. I’m raising the bar for all of the girls and getting them ready to play in college.”
The Vikings challenged the Bulldogs during the first half of the second meeting as the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie.
“We sped the game play up and was smarter with our passing (in the second half),” Menk said. “We finished our shots. That’s something we’ve been struggling with all season.”
Aaliyah Ruiz and Arianna Diaz led the Bulldogs with one goal and one assist apiece.
Kristina Corbin and Jackie Ruiz both scored once.
Natalie Corbin collected one assist.
Jackie Ruiz (first half) and Layla Sandoval (second half) made six and four saves, respectively, while splitting playing time at goalkeeper.
Ceres High will play host to crosstown-rival Central Valley today at 5:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs lost 3-1 to the first-place Hawks on April 30. Jackie Ruiz and Abigail Prado were sidelined for various reasons. Freshman standout Cylee Cowell suffered an ankle injury early in the second half and didn’t play the rest of the game.
“I’m expecting it to be an intense match,” Menk said. “We’re going to have our full lineup back. We’ll be able to capitalize on our opportunities.”
Hawks secure split
Central Valley’s first-place girls soccer team managed to win one of two games last week despite competing with a revamped lineup.
Head coach Miguel Larranaga had to move up players from the JV team due to a lack of numbers.
“Most of our varsity players were out of state at a (travel) soccer tournament,” he said.
Central Valley cruised to a 6-1 victory against host Los Banos in Western Athletic Conference play on May 12.
Malina Keomuangchanh led the Hawks with two goals and one assist
Kaitlyn Coupland collected two goals.
Angie Medrano had one goal and two assists.
Ally Singh had one goal and one assist.
Michelle Soto had two assists.
Central Valley lost 3-1 to Johansen on Friday in Ceres.
Bella Carrera, a JV player, accounted for the Hawks’ lone goal. “I thought we were going to win,” Larranaga said. “We had a lot of scoring opportunities. We stayed tied until the end. They scored two goals in the last 10 minutes.”
The Hawks moved to 5-1-1 in the WAC standings.
“I was very confident we would do well this season,” Larranaga said. “We’re fighting for first or second place. We still have to play Ceres.”
BOYS SOCCER
Ceres High’s boys soccer team had to settle for a 1-1 tie against Grace Davis on Senior Night last Friday at CUSD Stadium.
“I didn’t play my regular starting lineup,” head coach Gilbert Zamora Jr. said. “But that shouldn’t be an excuse. Grace Davis did a great job, defensively. We have to give them credit for that.”
The first-place Bulldogs moved to 6-0-1 in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
“Ceres used to lose all the time,” Zamora said. “Things have changed. We’re having fun. Our goal is to end up undefeated.”
Ceres High’s Noah Zamora scored against Grace Davis.
Gilbert Zamora III assisted.
Coach Zamora recognized eight senior players before the game, including Noe Carreon, David Escobar, Erick Gudino, Andrew Hernandez, Sebastian Olide, Gonzalo Rivera, Hassiel Ruiz and Luis Yepez.
“We’re going to miss them,” he said.
CV ties, loses
Central Valley’s boys soccer team collected one tie and one loss against league competition last week.
The third-place Hawks dropped to 3-3-1 in the WAC standings after losing 2-1 at Johansen on Friday.
The Vikings broke a 1-1 tie with a penalty kick in the final minutes.
Fernando Cano accounted for Central Valley’s lone goal.
“We had the lead for most of the game,” head coach Horatio Garcia said. “We made one mistake on defense and it cost us. Overall, it’s one of the best games we’ve played this season.”
Visiting Central Valley had to settle for a 3-3 tie versus Los Banos on May 12.
The Hawks squandered a three-goal lead in the second half.
“We got overconfident,” Garcia said.
Cano scored twice against the Tigers.
Abraham Aguayo had one goal.
