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CHS softball sends five to WAC-CCC clash
Standouts Nunes, Sagapolu team up for the last time
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Ceres High grad Rayohna Sagapolu won the home-run derby contest during the Western Athletic Conference vs. Central California Conference All-Star Softball Game. - photo by EDDIE RUIZ/The Courier

Callie Nunes and Rayohna Sagapolu represented Ceres High School's varsity softball program for the last time earlier this month.

Callie and Rayohna teamed up at the Third Annual Paul Leonardo Memorial Western Athletic Conference vs. Central California Conference All-Star Softball Game.

Nunes, Sagapolu and the WAC lost 4-3 to the CCC on June 6 at Livingston High School.

"It was fun to have one last hurrah with her," Nunes said. "We were laughing about it. We had a great time. She's a heck of a player. She's always had my back, offensively and defensively. She cracked jokes in tense moments and loosened me up. That's what I'm going to miss the most. There's an aura about Ray. It's indescribable."

Nunes allowed just one hit while pitching four scoreless innings.

Callie started the game.

She shut down the CCC during the first, second, eighth and ninth innings.

"I just started my college workout the day before the game," Nunes said. "It was another practice for me. I was pretty happy with how I did."

Sagapolu (third base) also played in the WAC vs. CCC All-Star Game as a junior and sophomore.

She won the home-run derby contest this year.

"That was pretty cool," Nunes said.

Ceres High's Vianney Perez (shortstop), Andrea Duran (second base) and Branda Villalpando (catcher) also suited up for the WAC.

"It was a mini team reunion," Nunes said. "It was special. It's an experience I'm glad I can say that I've done."

The WAC and CCC rosters were made up of players that earned all-conference accolades during the 2017 regular season.

The CCC scored what proved to be the winning run on a passed ball in the top of the seventh inning.

"It was a lot of fun playing on the same team with girls I'm used to playing against," Nunes said. "I'm proud of the WAC. The CCC has a lot of talent. We competed. We came close to beating them."

Nunes and Sagapolu accomplished a lot together while helping Ceres High continue its winning tradition in softball.

Callie and Rayohna led the Bulldogs to a combined overall record of 65-23 (30-4 in the WAC), one Sac-Joaquin Section crown, three conference titles and three playoff berths from 2015-17.

The Bulldogs won nine of 10 games en route to a first-place finish in the 2017 WAC standings.

Sagapolu was voted Most Valuable Player of the WAC.

Rayohna batted .645 with five homers, six doubles, 21 RBIs and 14 runs.

Nunes was named WAC Pitcher of the Year for the second year in a row.

Callie posted a 9-1 record with a 0.89 ERA, 113 strikeouts and just 13 walks.

Perez and Duran both earned first-team all-WAC honors.

Vianney batted .472 with three homers, two doubles, 17 RBIs, 17 runs and one stolen base.

Andrea batted .459 with one homer, three doubles, nine RBIs and 11 runs.

Villalpando was a second-team all-league selection.

Branda batted .323 with two RBIs and one run.

"Ray and I had a lot of responsibilities on our shoulders," Nunes said. "I don't think either of us felt pressure. We were prepared to win and that's what we did together. We led by example. We were there to encourage and help our teammates."

Nunes and Sagapolu earned softball scholarships to San Jose State and Concordia University, respectively.