Central Valley’s boys golf program posted a team score of 461 on its way to finishing in third place at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on April 27 at Rancho Del Rey Golf Club in Atwater.
Ceres High (471) took fourth overall.
The top three teams qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Tournament.
The Bulldogs had two golfers secure individual berths to Divisionals.
“This is a big moment for the boys,” Hawks’ first-year head coach William Bossard said. “We accomplished our team goal. This team, collectively, hasn’t played its best round yet.”
“I’m more than pleased,” Bulldogs’ leader Ron Edwards said. “The last four to five matches, they started playing better. They buckled down and practiced. They took it serious.”
Cristian Bossard led Central Valley with an 80.
“He finished the second half of the season really strong,” coach Bossard said. “He got more comfortable with the pressure and that led to him shooting lower scores. Everything started to click.”
Hawk teammates Adolfo Diaz and Ayden Whitworth both shot 92.
Whitworth had a career-best round.
“Ayden has a very good swing,” William Bossard said. “As he develops his short game, he’s going to be a formidable player in the league.”
William Montez and Aayden Vang rounded out Central Valley’s scorecard with rounds of 98 and 99.
Isaac Gonzalez led Ceres High with an 80 at the WAC Championships.
“It’s his best round of the season,” Edwards said.
Bulldog teammates Cooper Perez, Alexander Ortega, Zuriel Harold and Jayson Trevino shot 93, 97, 100 and 101, respectively.
Ceres High finished ahead of Lathrop in the team standings.
“We finally beat Lathrop,” Edwards said.
Gonzalez and Perez both advanced to Divisionals.
“They stepped up,” Edwards said. “They earned it.”
SOFTBALL
Central Valley’s softball team kept its perfect record intact against Western Athletic Conference competition last week.
Crosstown-rival Ceres High kept its WAC title hopes alive.
“We’ve done a really good job of putting ourselves in this position,” Hawks’ leader Jimmy Bates stated. “We’re a much different team from where we were before league.”
“There’s still a chance for us to share the league title with Ceres High if we win out,” Bulldogs’ head coach Marcos Duran said.
First-place Central Valley improved to 15-8 overall and 12-0 in WAC play following its 15-0 mercy-rule win over Johansen on May 1 in Ceres.
Bates recognized five of the Hawks’ senior players before their second-to-last regular-season home game, including Gabriela Delatorre, Alicia Espinoza, Abigail Krauss, KaDynce Piceno and Alayah Villa.
Upperclassmen Jaren Bass did not attend the contest due to another school commitment.
“I’m really thankful for the sacrifices they’ve made for our program,” Bates said.
Espinoza batted 1-for-1 with one double, two RBIs and three runs.
Krauss batted 2-for-3 with one double and three runs.
Delatorre batted 0-for-1 with one RBI and two runs.
Piceno batted 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Villa batted 2-for-3 with one double and one run.
“All of our seniors started,” Bates said.
Junior Brooklyn Steeley batted 3-for-3 on offense with one triple, one double and three RBIs.
Steeley also pitched a no-hitter.
She had seven strikeouts and one walk in five innings.
Second-place Ceres High improved to 14-6-1 overall and 11-1 in the WAC with a 16-0 mercy-rule win against Grace Davis on May 1 in Modesto.
“The girls have been playing well,” Duran said. “Our pitching has been great.”
Bulldog Lizzie Figueroa allowed no runs and just one hit with nine strikeouts in the circle while leading the Bulldogs past the Spartans.
She also singled on offense.
Briona Bravo batted 3-for-4 with one triple, one double, three RBIs and two runs.
Bella Bravo batted 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs.
Gabby Cole batted 3-for-4 with one triple, one RBI and three runs.
Ceres High will play host to Central Valley this Wednesday at 4 p.m.
The Hawks edged the Bulldogs 3-2 at home on April 15.
“It’s a really big week,” Bates said. “It’s going to determine how our league standings shake out.”
“It’s going to be a tough game,” Duran added. “They’re a well-coached team. They’re winning for a reason.”
