Head coach Mike Corsaut has coached a lot of great softball players at Ceres High School.
Brooklyn Heffernan made a name for herself at the varsity level in 2019 by being named the Western Athletic Conference’s Most Valuable Player.
The junior pitcher/outfielder added to her resume this year when she was voted WAC South Division MVP.
“She’s the real deal,” Corsaut said. “She’s gotten better every year. She works hard. She hates to lose. She’ll do what she has to do to win.”
“I’m grateful for everyone that’s helped me get to where I’m at today—coaches and family,” stated Heffernan, who’s verbally committed to Stanislaus State. “I definitely give Jimmy (Dyson) a lot of credit. He’s been working with me since I started pitching when I was 9 or 10. He helped me become the pitcher I am today. I put in a lot of work.”
“Jimmy Dyson is the best pitching coach in the area,” Corsaut added.
Heffernan and WAC first-teamers Cheralyn Durossette, Sehren Martinez and Isabela Giraldes were rewarded for leading Ceres High to the Western Athletic Conference title (15-0).
Ceres High won its second conference title in three years.
The Bulldogs amassed a 16-3 overall record.
“We should be able to win WAC again."Brooklyn Heffernan
“We should be able to win WAC again,” Heffernan said.
Heffernan posted a 10-0 record in WAC play with a 0.88 earned-run average, 118 strikeouts, seven complete games and one save.
“She throws harder,” Corsaut said. “She has a lot of movement on her ball. She can still get better.”
Heffernan batted .375 on the year with one home run, one triple, seven doubles, 17 RBIs, 22 runs and four stolen bases.
She had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .485, .589 and 1.074, respectively.
“You don’t want to leave the ball over the plate because she’ll crush it,” Corsaut said. “When she’s locked in, you can’t get anything by her.”
Durossette, a senior catcher, batted .483 with one double, one triple, 21 RBIs, 19 runs and four stolen bases.
She had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .538, .534 and 1.500.
“I’m so proud of her,” Corsaut said. “She worked so hard. Her work ethic and leadership are going to be missed.”
Martinez, a sophomore third baseman, batted .450 with seven doubles, 20 RBIs, 30 runs and 10 stolen bases.
She had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .566, .566 and 1.133.
“She’s our best pure athlete,” Corsaut said. “She makes it look easy. She’s smooth in everything she does.”
Giraldes, a freshman first baseman, batted .606 with two triples, four doubles, 21 RBIs, 23 runs and six stolen bases.
She had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .581, .678 and 1.260.
“I didn’t expect her to be as good as she was,” Corsaut said. “She fit right in. The girls love her.”