Central Valley’s softball team beat Lathrop and lost to Ceres High during the final week of the Western Athletic Conference season.

The Hawks suffered a 19-3 loss while playing host to the crosstown-rival Bulldogs on Wednesday.

Central Valley never recovered after falling behind 9-0 in the top of the first inning.

“We were fighting an uphill battle,” head coach Jimmy Bates said. “Nerves got the best of us early. We had a hard time throwing strikes and we didn’t look our best defensively.”

The Hawks (13-14, 7-7) placed fourth in the Western Athletic Conference standings. 

Newcomers to the WAC, Central Valley finished 9-16 and fifth in the Central California Conference (4-8) last spring.

“We’re a young team,” Bates said. “Seven of our 13 players are underclassmen. We have four sophomores and three freshmen. We’re headed in the right direction. Next year, we’ll see what we’re capable of.”

The Hawks posted a team batting average of .222 versus Bulldog pitcher Alizae Cole.

Brooklynn Steeley batted 2-for-2 from the plate with one homer, one double, two RBIs and two runs.

Gabriela Delatorre batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Monster Prudhel singled.

“I’ll give our girls credit,” Bates said. “Last time we faced Alizae, we didn’t get any hits or score any runs. We were able to get hits with runners in scoring position this time.”

Down 9-0, Steeley belted a solo homer over the right-center field fence to lead off the bottom of the second inning.

“She had a good game for us,” Bates said. “It was nice to see her have some success.”

Delatorre and Steeley both pitched against Ceres High.

Delatorre gave up five earned runs and seven hits with no strikeouts and three walks in two innings.

Steeley allowed eight earned runs and 12 hits with no strikeouts and one walk in three innings.

Central Valley made eight errors on defense.

Ceres High had nine different players collect at least one hit.

“There’s not any place you can take a breath in their lineup,” Bates said.

Central Valley shut out host Lathrop 8-0 on April 28. 

Delatorre was the winning pitcher.

She yielded no earned runs and three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks in seven innings.

Delatorre singled on offense.

Hawk teammate Abigail Krauss batted 2-for-4 with one double, four RBIs and one run.

Alicia Espinoza batted 2-for-3 with one double, two RBIs and one run.

Steeley batted 2-for-4 with one double and two runs.

Prudhel batted 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Madelyn Morales batted 1-for-3 with one double and one run.

Valerie Espinoza tallied two runs.

Jaren Bass scored one run.

Destiny Herrera and Reylena Herrera both singled.

Central Valley totaled 11 hits.

The Hawks committed just one error.

Central Valley will close out the 2025 season this Thursday with a 4 p.m. non-league game at Merced.