Ceres High’s softball program plans to continue its tradition of excellence this spring under first-year head coach Marcos Duran’s guidance.

Josie Heacox, Duran’s predecessor, a Ceres native and CHS special education teacher, stepped down to focus on family after guiding the Bulldogs for one season. She led Ceres High to an 18-10 overall record, its third consecutive Western Athletic Conference title and fifth Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearance in six years.

Heacox replaced Mike Corsaut, who led the Bulldogs to eight league championships and nine postseason berths during his 11-year tenure (2019-24, 2002-06).

“It’s a lot of responsibility,” Duran said. “The program has won a lot. I want to continue that tradition.”

Ceres High will compete with a revamped roster in 2026 as six key players were lost to graduation, including Alizae Cole, Ava Montesdeoca, Kylie Bond, Nani Sagapolu, Madeline Schultz and Tatianna Ortiz.

Cole, a 2025 WAC First Team selection, became just the eighth CHS grad to earn a NCAA Division-I softball scholarship when she signed with Cal State Northridge.

She was voted WAC Pitcher of the Year as a junior.

Montesdeoca, 2025 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, will continue her playing career at Stanislaus State.

The Bulldogs will rely on 11 players this year: Bella Bravo (Sr., Infielder/Outfielder), Lizzie Figueroa (Sr., Pitcher), Gabby Ortiz (Sr., OF), Amaia Pritchett (Sr., IF), Kyleigh Robinson (Sr., IF/Catcher), Presley Vierra (Sr., Utility/C), Sami Alcarez (Jr., IF, P), Jackie Guillory (Jr., UT), Gabby Cole (So., OF)), Sophia Alcarez (Fr., UT) and Briona Bravo (Fr., IF/C).

Pritchett, Figueroa, Sami Alcarez, Bella Bravo and Gabby Ortiz are returners.

Robinson, Vierra, Guillory, Cole, Sophia Alcarez and Briona Bravo are newcomers.

Bella Bravo was named to the WAC First Team as a junior.

She batted .523 with two home runs, three triples, eight doubles, 24 RBIs, 27 runs and nine stolen bases.

Figueroa earned second-team all-WAC honors.

She batted .362 with two doubles, 21 RBIs, 26 runs and 10 stolen bases.

She compiled a 5-3 record at pitcher with a 2.58 earned-run average, 44 strikeouts and 12 walks in 402/3 innings.

Pritchett batted .213 with two doubles, 14 RBIs, 18 runs, five stolen bases and 10 walks.

Gabby Ortiz batted .301 with two triples, four doubles, 23 RBIs, 34 runs 21 stolen bases and 22 walks.

Sami Alcarez batted .231 with one double, four RBIs and 11 runs.

She posted a 3-2 record in the circle with a 5.62 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 10 walks in 182/3 innings.

“We lost a lot of talent,” Duran said. “But we have a lot of players coming back. We’re senior-heavy. We have girls with experience. They’ve played different levels of travel ball. Our philosophy is to lock in when we’re between the lines.”

Pritchett, Figueroa and Bella Bravo are team leaders.

“Amaia leads by example,” Duran said. “She gets everybody to pitch in. Bella leads by performance. She’s willing to talk. Lizzie is not much of a talker. She gives everything she has in the circle.”

Marcos Duran has two assistant coaches, including Rayohna Sagapolu (CHS class of 2017) and daughter Andrea Duran (CHS class of 2018).

Sagapolu and Andrea Duran were both members of Ceres High’s 2016 Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III championship team.

Sagapolu was a four-year varsity standout with the Bulldogs.

She was voted Most Valuable Player of the WAC during her senior year.

She earned first-team all-league honors as a junior, sophomore and freshman.

Sagapolu posted a career batting average of .429 with 13 homers, four triples, 34 doubles, 112 RBIs and 107 runs.

She compiled a 21-10 record with 197 strikeouts and two no-hitters at pitcher.

Andrea Duran batted .306 with one homer, one triple, four doubles, 10 RBIs and 10 runs during her final season with Ceres High.

She was selected to the WAC Second Team.

Andrea Duran garnered first-team recognition junior year.

Sagapolu and Andrea Duran played college softball at NCAA Division-I San Jose State and Division-II Cal State Monterey Bay, respectively.

“It’s a luxury to have those two ladies (Sagapolu and Andrea Duran) on my coaching staff,” Marcos Duran said. “I don’t like to call them assistant coaches. They know what they’re talking about. I trust them.”

Ceres High will be vying for its fourth straight WAC championship and sixth consecutive section playoff berth in 2026.

No playoffs were held in 2020 due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bulldogs avenged a pair of losses while finishing in a three-way tie for first place in the WAC standings with Beyer and Livingston this past season. The three teams compiled identical 12-2 records.

Central Valley (7-7) and Lathrop (7-7) tied for fourth place in the WAC.

Grace Davis (3-11), Johansen (2-12) and Pacheco (1-13) placed fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

Ceres High won its final eight league games.

The top three teams in league qualify for postseason play.

“We have enough talent on this team to do very well,” Marcos Duran said. “Every time we step on the field, we want to do the simple things right. We need to be focused every game. We can’t take any of our opponents lightly.”