Central Valley High School's varsity softball team tripled its win total from a season ago this year.

The Hawks won three of 12 games on their way to a sixth-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings.

Central Valley, 1-11 in 2012, finished ahead of Pacheco (2-10).

Central Catholic (12-0), Ceres High (8-4), Los Banos (8-4), Patterson (5-7) and Livingston (4-8) took first, second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Hawks beat Pacheco twice and Livingston once.

Central Valley lost 3-2 and 10-7 to Patterson, and 6-3 to Los Banos.

"We played a lot better this year," Hawks head coach Kristen Ghimenti said. "The effort was definitely there. I saw a difference in the way they acted in practice. It's been exciting to see them grow."

The Hawks wrapped up the WAC season with a 16-4 five-inning mercy-rule loss to the first-place Raiders Raiders on May 7 in Ceres.

"They got everything you want in a talented team," Ghimenti said.

Central Valley pitch Lexy Cordova scattered 12 hits, fanned two and walked two.

The Hawks mustered just three hits off Monica Reno, Central Catholic's second pitcher.

Reno yielded two earned runs and struck out four.

Central Valley allowed four runs in the first inning, six in the second, four in the third and two in the fourth.

The Hawks scored twice in both the first and fifth innings.

Malynda Lomeli, Central Valley's lone senior, was feted before the game.

"She was a crucial player in our program for the last four years," Ghimenti said. "She was a role model on and off the field. It's going to be a huge hole we have to fill next season. She'll be missed."

The Hawks bring back the core of their team with Cordova, Sarah McElroy, Mia Lorenzo, Nicholette Mendez, Lynaya Lerma and Lindsay Alexander.

Cordova was the Hawks' main pitcher.
McElroy, Central Valley's other hurler, was relegated to second base due to an elbow injury.

"I thought Lexy did a really good job," Ghimenti said. "There was nobody else. That's hard. Pitching is a very mental position. She matured a lot."

Central Valley has yet to experience a breakthrough season in softball.

The Hawks started competing at the varsity level in 2007.

Central Valley's varsity baseball team qualified for the postseason for the first time in program history this year.

"Getting to see them clinch a playoff berth was awesome," Ghimenti said. "That's always the goal. My expectations will increase because we return so many girls. We just have to work hard and utilize the talent we do have. The best players in our area play softball from January to December. It takes a different dedication."