Central Valley’s varsity softball team placed fourth with a 3-7 record during its final season in the Western Athletic Conference last spring.

The Hawks will compete in the Central California Conference this year.

Central Valley moved from the WAC to the CCC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.

“Change is always good,” Hawks’ coach Regina Selfridge said. “It gives you something else to strive for.”

Central Valley’s top returners are Scarlett Lloyd (Jr.), Brianna Quiroz (Sr.), Gabriella Benenati (So.), Giuliana Gutierrez (Jr.), Alyssa Maeyama (Sr.) and Isabella Pelayo (So.).

The Hawks’ top newcomers are Sammy Espinoza (So.), Victoria Gudino (So.), Jaiden Medeiros (Fr.), Mony Chhoeum (Fr.), Kaydee Peterman (Jr.) and Julia Roton (Fr.).

“We got talent,” Selfridge said. “It’s just a matter of getting all the pieces to work at the same time.”

Lloyd earned first-team all-conference honors for the second year in a row in 2018.

She was one of the top hitters and pitchers in the WAC.

Lloyd batted .621 from the plate with one homer, one double, 10 RBIs, three runs and two stolen bases.

She had slugging and on-base percentages of .758 and .656, respectively.

Lloyd ranked second in batting average and on-base percentage, third in RBIs and fifth in slugging percentage in conference play.

She compiled a 2-7 record at pitcher with a league-leading 86 strikeouts.

“Scarlett works hard,” Selfridge said. “She’s smart. She loves the sport. It definitely shows.”

Quiroz also earned first-team, all-conference honors.

She batted .485 with three doubles, two RBIs, seven runs and one stolen base.

Quiroz was a second-team pick as a sophomore.

“Bri is one of the hardest-working girls I’ve come across,” Selfridge said. “She has a lot of softball knowledge. She can play anywhere. She’s always very polite but is very competitive.”

Central Valley’s conference schedule will include games against Patterson, Atwater, Buhach Colony, Merced, Golden Valley and El Capitan.

“I was in the CCC before when I coached at Pitman,” Selfridge said. “The competition is about the same as the WAC.”