A day removed from losing 14-1 to Central Valley in baseball, Ceres High showed grit before falling 6-5 in extra innings during the second game of the crosstown matchup on March 2 at Art McRae Field.
“We showed what we’re capable of,” Bulldogs’ head coach/former Hawks’ multi-sport standout athlete Raul Godinez said. “It was a battle. That’s what I expected for the second and first game.”
Pitcher Zachary Van Atta allowed four runs, including two earned, with five strikeouts and one walk in four innings during Ceres High’s Game 2 loss to Central Valley.
Kyan Bowen led the way on offense as he batted 2-for-5 from the plate with two doubles, one RBI and two runs.
Daniel Davis and Diego Mariscal both batted 2-for-5 with one run.
Vincent Castrejon batted 2-for-3 with one double.
Austin Maines batted 1-for-6 with one RBI and one run.
Ernesto Miranda batted 1-for-6 with one RBI.
“There were some positives in the game,” Godinez said. “The energy was there. We showed we can battle.”
Ceres High battled back from a 5-1 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“We had plenty of opportunities,” Godinez said. “We had guys on base in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings. They made some defensive plays. They didn’t let the pressure get to them.”
Ceres High lost via the mercy-rule to host Central Valley in five innings on March 1.
“We got hit in the mouth and didn’t answer back,” Godinez said. “The guys checked out early. I was surprised.”
Miranda batted 1-for-2 from the plate with one run.
Carson Ulrich batted 1-for-2 with one double.
Bulldog pitcher Brayden Clark allowed 11 runs and three hits with one strikeout and three walks in 21/3 innings.
The Bulldogs never recovered after falling behind 11-0 through three innings of play.
“We came out super flat,” Godinez said. “The nerves were there.”
Ceres High has lost eight straight games to Central Valley dating back to the 2021 season.
Godinez thought the Bulldogs would snap their seven-game winless streak versus the Hawks this year.
“We were really confident,” Godinez said. “I felt like we were ready. I’m not sure what happened. It was a good learning lesson for us. It was a reality check. They have a good team. We do, too.”
Ceres High and Central Valley will compete in the same league beginning next season.
The Hawks are moving from the Central California Conference to the Western Athletic Conference as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.
“It’s going to be some good battles between us,” Godinez said while talking about the crosstown matchup. More chips are down when we play. It’s exciting.”
Ceres High will begin WAC play this week.
The Bulldogs will play at Lathrop today and host to the Spartans on Friday.
Both games will begin at 4 p.m.
