Six days removed from dropping to second place in the Western Athletic Conference, Ceres High’s softball team climbed to the top of the standings this past week after collecting a pair of key wins.
“We’re in the driver’s seat now,” Bulldogs’ head coach Mike Corsaut said. “It shows how crazy competitive this league is. It’s been like that all year.”
Ceres High improved to 13-6 overall and 9-2 in the WAC after pulling away for a 10-5 win against Pacheco on Thursday in Los Banos.
The Panthers (15-8, 7-3) fell to third in conference play.
“If we win these last two league games, we’re assured at least a share of the (WAC) title,” Corsaut said.
Bulldog pitcher Kylie Bond (9-1) tallied 10 strikeouts with no walks.
She gave up two earned runs and five hits in seven innings.
“She’s been a pleasant surprise,” Corsaut said. “She’s not afraid to battle. She’s a gamer. She knows how to pitch.”
Maddie Schultz made her season-debut with the Bulldogs. The sophomore rightfielder/catcher was sidelined with shoulder and back injuries sustained during the wrestling season.
Schultz batted 2-for-3 from the plate with one homer, two doubles, one RBI, two runs and two intentional walks.
“It’s just good to have her back in the lineup,” Corsaut said.
The Bulldogs collected a season-high 16 hits versus the Panthers.
Sehren Martinez batted 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs.
Alizae Cole batted 1-for-4 with one double, four RBIs and one run.
Ava Montesdeoca batted 3-for-3 with one RBI, two runs and two walks.
Nani Sagapolu batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.
Natalie Gomes batted 1-for-3 with two runs.
Tatum George batted 3-for-5.
Ceres High stormed out to a 6-0 lead.
Pacheco cut the deficit to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Bulldogs pulled away after scoring four times in the top of the seventh inning.
Ceres High defeated Johansen by the mercy rule for the second time this season.
The Bulldogs topped the Vikings 18-2 in five innings on April 25 in Ceres.
“The girls were dialed in,” Corsaut said. “They did a great job.”
Bond yielded two earned runs and three hits with six strikeouts and one walk in four innings.
She chipped in on offense with one RBI and one run.
Martinez batted 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and four runs.
Montesdeoca batted 0-for-2 with one RBI, three runs and two walks.
Sagapolu batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and two runs.
Gomes batted 1-for-2 with three runs.
Cole batted 1-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and one run.
Emma Johnson batted 1-for-3 with one double, two RBIs and one run.
Illiana Saldana batted 1-for-1 with two RBIs.
George batted 1-for-1 with one RBI and one run.
Bella Bravo batted 1-for-3 with one run.
Haylee Mann scored once.
Ceres High will play at Mountain House on Thursday at 3 p.m.
BASEBALL
Ceres High’s baseball program is headed back to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
The third-place Bulldogs secured their third postseason berth in the past five years after defeating the Grace Davis Spartans twice in Western Athletic Conference play this past week.
Seventh-place Grace Davis dropped to 3-11 overall and 2-9 in the conference standings.
“I couldn’t be more happy with the season,” first-year head coach Raul Godinez said. “It’s exactly what we needed to do this year. We’re making some noise.”
Junior Brayden Clark pitched a gem of a game while leading the Bulldogs to a 6-0 win over the Spartans on Friday in Modesto.
Clark improved his record to 4-0 in league play.
He totaled eight strikeouts while tossing a complete game. Clark allowed no runs and three hits in seven innings.
He didn’t pitch early in the season. He played second base.
“I gave him a start and he did well,” Godinez said. “Now, he’s our go-to guy. He’s made a name for himself.”
Kyan Bowen and Vincent Castrejon led the way on offense against Grace Davis as they both had RBI singles.
Bulldog pitchers Landyn Hudson and Jorge Gonzalez had a combined 13 strikeouts during Wednesday’s 9-3 victory against the Spartans at Art McRae Field.
Hudson allowed just two hits with 10 strikeouts in 51/3 innings.
Gonzalez gave up two hits with three strikeouts in 12/3 innings.
Hudson started.
Hudson also batted 2-for-4 on offense with one double and two RBIs.
Diego Marisca batted 2-for-2 from the plate with one double and two RBIs.
Joshua Prestridge batted 3-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
Zion Wesir collected one RBI.
Castrejon double twice and singled once.
“Everybody contributed to the win,” Godinez said.
Ceres High will battle first-place Mountain House (17-8, 11-1) this week.
The Bulldogs will play on the road today and at home on Friday. Both games will begin at 4 p.m.
GOLF
Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s boys golf teams completed the regular season portion of their schedules last week.
The Bulldogs won two of three matches, while the Hawks suffered three losses.
Ceres High edged crosstown-rival Central Valley by 12 strokes, 196-208, in non-league play April 24 at St. Stanislaus Golf Course.
“I thought it was going to be close and it was,” Bulldogs’ head coach Ron Edwards said.
“It was a fun day,” Hawks’ leader Scott Edwards said. “Everybody got along.”
Ceres High’s Jayson Homsombath earned low-medalist honors with a 33.
Bulldog teammates Miles Cabling, Zachary Chastain, Benjamin Larranaga shot 35, 38, 44 and 46, respectively.
Dillon Brush led Central Valley with a 36.
Hawk teammates William Montez, Jadon Rafatti, Daniel Castillo and Daniel Jacinto shot 37, 41, 46 and 48, respectively.
Ceres High secured a split during the final week of the WAC cluster season on Wednesday at Pheasant Run.
The Bulldogs posted a 543-607 victory over the Lathrop Spartans.
Ceres High lost 511-543 to the Los Banos Tigers.
Homsombath paced the Bulldogs with an 82.
Cabling, Chastain, Larranaga and Jayson Trevino shot 93, 108, 127 and 133, respectively.
The new-look Bulldogs compiled a 4-3 record on their way to a fourth-place finish in the WAC cluster standings.
“I’m ecstatic about that,” Ron Edwards said. “They should be proud of themselves. I expected us to finish .500. I didn’t know how we’d do because we have a lot of new players.”
Central Valley dropped a pair of matches during the final week of the Central California Conference dual season.
The Hawks amassed a 2-10 record en route to a sixth-place finish in the CCC dual standings.
“We’re in a good golf league,” Scott Edwards said. “The other teams are better.”
Central Valley lost by forfeit to Buhach Colony on Thursday at St. Stanislaus.
The Hawks didn’t post a team score due to a thin lineup, which featured just four golfers.
Brush fired a team-best 36.
Rafatti, Davila-Sanchez and Castillo shot 37, 41 and 43, respectively.
Central Valley lost 258-280 to Merced on April 24 at Merced Country Club.
Rafatti led the Hawks with a 50. Brush, Montez, Gabriel Davila-Sanchez and Castillo shot 52, 54, 61 and 63, respectively.
“It’s been a fun group to coach,” Scott Edwards said.
