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Hawks conclude regular baseball season
CV finishes last in WAC
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Gabriel Quezada and four other seniors suited up for Central Valleys baseball team for the final time on May 9. The Hawks closed out WAC play with a 4-2 loss while battling Ceres High. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier

Central Valley's varsity baseball program experienced more lows than highs this spring.

The Hawks compiled a 5-21-1 overall record and finished in last place in the Western Athletic Conference standings (1-14).

"I'm glad I was a part of this team," Central Valley third-year player Gabriel Quezada said. "I'm proud of the effort but not the win-loss record. Next year's team will be better."

The host Hawks closed out the WAC season with a 4-2 loss to the crosstown-rival Bulldogs of Ceres High on May 9.

Quezada and fellow seniors Ty Borchardt, James Andres, Leandro Mercado and Andrew Badillo were recognized before the game.

"We just went out there and had fun," Quezada said. "I didn't think this day would come. It went by fast. I can still remember my first start at varsity and how nervous I was. I'm just so glad I got to play. This is something I won't forget."

Ahead 2-0, Central Valley allowed one run in the top of the second inning and three in the sixth en route to losing to second-place Ceres High (22-5, 12-3).

"We were playing for each other and coach (Derrick Goblirsch)," Quezada said. "We wanted to win for him."

Borchardt made his final start at pitcher for the Hawks.

Ty gave up four runs and four hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 52/3 innings.

Andres batted 2-for-3 from the plate with one run.

Sophomore Alex Solis scored once.

Mercado and junior Jason Perez both singled.

Quezada hit a long fly out to the left-field warning track with the bases loaded and two down in the bottom of the fifth inning.

"As soon as I hit it, I thought it was gone," he said. "If we would have scored those runs, the game would have been over, especially because of the way Ty was pitching. That was his best performance of the season. He was zoned in. His curveball was on."

The Hawks lost 4-0 and 14-2 to the Bulldogs the previous week.

"We progressed from game one to game three," Quezada said. "We went into the last game super confident. We didn't have anything to lose. We competed better. We should have won. Central Valley has the talent to be great. They're headed in the right direction. The biggest thing is chemistry. Everyone has to be on the same page."