Central Valley’s softball team responded just how head coach Jimmy Bates thought it would while making just its second appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
Less than a week removed from suffering a heart-breaking 9-8 loss to the crosstown-rival Ceres High Bulldogs in a matchup for the Western Athletic Conference title, the Hawks won one of two games in the Division-I postseason bracket.
“It’s a credit to the girls and how resilient they are,” Bates said. “They bounced back from one of the hardest weeks of the season. Hopefully, it’s something they can remember for the rest of their lives.”
Sixteenth-seeded Central Valley accomplished two firsts while defeating 17th-seeded Tokay 8-4 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Playoff Play-In Game on May 11 in Ceres.
The Hawks collected their first-ever playoff victory while hosting their first-ever postseason game.
“We did another thing that had never been done in school history,” Bates stated. “It was amazing to see the girls pull that off. It was a loud environment. The girls were really composed. Outside of Bella (Gabriela Delatorre) and Alicia (Espinoza), nobody had made it to playoffs on our roster. Hopefully, it becomes the norm for our program.”
Central Valley junior Brooklynn Steeley was the winning pitcher.
She gave up two earned runs and four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 62/3 innings.
“She did a really good job of limiting free bases considering how small the strike zone was,” Bates said.
Steeley also received plenty of run support as the Hawks had a host of contributors on offense.
Sophomore Madelyn Morales batted 2-for-4 with one triple, one double, three RBIs and two runs.
Sophomore Monster Prudhel batted 1-for-3 with one triple and two RBIs.
Freshman Selene Valencia batted 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run.
Alayah Villa scored twice as a courtesy runner.
Freshman Selah Chesney batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one stolen base.
Junior Reylena Herrera batted 0-for-2 with one run and two walks.
Delatorre and Jaren Bass both tallied one run.
Freshman Emma Padilla batted 2-for-3 with one double.
Abigial Krauss chipped in with two walks and one stolen base.
The Hawks committed just two errors on defense.
Central Valley led from start to finish versus Tokay.
The Hawks outscored the Tigers 6-0 in the first inning.
“It’s a lot easier to play with a lead,” Bates said.
Top-seeded Whitney ended Central Valley’s season with a 10-0 mercy-rule victory in the first round of the playoffs on May 13 in Rocklin.
“The girls were excited to get a chance at extra competition,” Bates said.
Whitney’s Taylor Cordell and Paige Tamblyn pitched a combined no-hitter against the Hawks.
Cordell and Tamblyn each had four strikeouts.
“It’s the best arms we’ve seen all year,” Bates said.
The Wildcats pounded 14 hits.
“They put constant pressure on us,” Bates said. “They didn’t do anything flashy but did everything well.”
Central Valley compiled a 16-11 overall record, finished in second place in the WAC standings with a 12-2 mark and bested one of two opponents in the Division-I playoff tournament this spring.
The Hawks opened conference play with a team-record 12 consecutive wins.
Central Valley enjoyed one of its best seasons to date.
“It’s been steady growth with this group,” Bates said. “They played for each other. They kept working and growing together.”
Central Valley will compete with a revamped lineup in 2027 as Delatorre, Espinoza, Villa, Bass, Krauss and KaDynce Piceno will be lost to graduation.
“They left the program in a much better place than when they came in ,” Bates said.
