Chris Garcia joined elite company by becoming just the third baseball player from Central Valley High School to earn Most Valuable Player honors.

The senior pitcher was named Western Athletic Conference MVP in a vote by the league’s head coaches following the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Garcia follows in the footsteps of Gabrial Lopez (2021) and Ruben Casas (2013).

Casas pitched, batted third and played shortstop while leading the Hawks to their first-ever playoff appearance. He compiled a 5-1 record with a 3.14 earned-run average, 45 strikeouts and two complete games. Casas hit .400 with two homers, three triples, four doubles, four stolen bases, 10 RBIs and 10 runs.

Lopez posted a perfect 7-0 record on the mound with a 0.60 ERA, one no-hitter, three shutouts, six complete games, 84 strikeouts and 18 walks as Central Valley amassed a 14-4 overall record and claimed the WAC South championship (8-1).

“It’s definitely a great accomplishment for Chris,” Hawks’ head coach Brad Bussard said. “Every coach voted for him. It was unanimous. He was the most dominant player in the league and everybody knew it. He didn’t give up a single earned run.”

Garcia posted a 6-0 record on the mound with a 0.00 ERA, 64 strikeouts and just six walks in 302/3 innings.

He ranked first on the team in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

Garcia batted .300 from the plate on offense with one double, eight RBIs, 17 runs, seven walks, 13 hit by pitches and four stolen bases.

He ranked first on the team in runs and hit by pitches, and third in walks.

Garcia had a combined record of 12-7 at pitcher with 177 strikeouts and 28 walks senior and freshman years.

He pitched sparingly as a junior and sophomore due to arm fatigue.

He totaled 11 strikeouts and one walk in Central Valley’s 8-3 victory against Franklin of Stockton in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs this season.

“It was definitely a luxury to have him on the team,” Bussard said. “We had a good chance to win every time he stepped on the mound.”

Central Valley’s Mason Whitworth was voted WAC Offensive Player of the Year.

The junior shortstop batted .500 from the plate with two doubles, seven RBIs, 16 runs and nine stolen bases in 14 games.

He ranked first on the team in hits, second in batting average, doubles, runs, walks and stolen bases, and fifth in RBIs.

“Mason was our best hitter throughout the season,” Bussard said. “The kid racks up hits.”

Hawk teammates Nicholas Dominguez, Caden Mendonca, Carter Hernandez and Fernando Dominguez were selected to the WAC First Team.

Nicholas Dominguez, a senior pitcher, earned first-team all-league accolades for the second year in a row.

He posted a 4-0 record with a 0.80 earned-run average, 32 strikeouts and 14 walks in 261/3 innings.

“Nick’s one of the most consistent pitchers we’ve had in our program,” Bussard said.

Nicholas Dominguez had a career-record of 13-3 with a 1.47 ERA, 111 strikeouts and 49 walks in 114 innings.

“We’ve been super successful when he’s on the mound,” Bussard said. “And his record shows that.”

Mendonca, a junior outfielder, batted .514 with one triple, three doubles, eight RBIs, 11 runs and 12 stolen bases.

“Caden’s probably the best centerfielder in our area,” Bussard said. “He’s a freak of an athlete. He’s got tools other kids don’t have. He’s fast. He has a great arm. And he’s really good defensively.”

Hernandez, a junior infielder, batted .342 with one double, 15 RBIs, seven runs and five stolen bases.

He collected go-ahead hits versus Beyer and Pacheco.

“Carter was one of the best third basemen in our league,” Bussard said. “He was also our most clutch hitter.”

Fernando Dominguez earned first-team honors for the first time. The junior catcher was a second-team picks as a sophomore and freshman.

He batted .333 from the plate this year with one home run, one double, 13 RBIs, 12 runs and three stolen bases.

Fernando Dominguez had a fielding percentage of 1.000.

“Catcher is the most important position on the field in my opinion,” Bussard said. “He gave up just one stolen base in league play.”

Central Valley’s Andre Flores and Ezequiel Verduzco were both named to the WAC Second Team.

Flores, a senior outfielder, batted .481 with one triple, eight RBIs, 10 runs and nine stolen bases.

“Andre’s a really good athlete,” Bussard said.

Verduzco, a sophomore outfielder/designated hitter, batted .379 with three triples, three doubles, eight RBIs, 11 runs and five stolen bases.

“He was a good addition to the team,” Bussard said. “He’s big. He’s strong.”

Eight members of Central Valley’s baseball team garnered WAC recognition this spring.

“It shows all the work the kids put all paid off,” Bussard said. 

Garcia, Whitworth, Mendonca, Hernandez, Flores, Verduzco, Nicholas Dominguez and Fernando Dominguez were rewarded for leading the Hawks to the WAC championship.

Central Valley won all 14 of its games.

“We wanted to show people we are one of the best programs in the area,” Bussard said.