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Heffernan wins MVP award for third time
• Ceres High School softball standouts recognized for outstanding play this spring
Brooklyn Heffernan swings arm
Brooklyn Heffernan was voted Most Valuable Player of the Western Athletic Conference this spring. She starred at pitcher and contributed on offense.

Ceres High School’s softball program had six players earn all-conference honors for their stellar play this spring.

Brooklyn Heffernan, Sehren Martinez, Ava Montesdeoca, Isabela Giraldes, Alizae Cole and Alayna De La Torre were rewarded during the Western Athletic Conference’s year-end head coaches’ meeting on May 15 in Los Banos.

Heffernan, Martinez, Montesdeoca, Giraldes, Cole and De La Torre helped lead the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in the WAC standings (12-2).

“We had the most girls earn all-league,” Ceres High leader Mike Corsaut said. “I thought we should have had more first-teamers, but I’ll take what we got.”

Heffernan, senior pitcher, shared the conference’s Most Valuable Award with Los Banos’ Paige Smith and Beyer’s Delaney Pratt.

She was voted MVP of the Western Athletic Conference South Division as a junior and the WAC’s top player in the ninth grade.

“It’s Brooklyn’s third time being MVP in four years,” Corsaut said. “It’s a remarkable feat. I don’t remember anybody from Ceres doing that. It just shows you how good she is. It’s pretty cool the league recognizes that, too.”

Heffernan also earned first-team all-WAC honors, along with Martinez and Montesdeoca.

Heffernan posted a 14-6 record in the circle with a 1.58 ERA, 170 strikeouts and 20 walks.

Opponents batted just .175 from the plate versus Heffernan.

Heffernan also contributed on offense with a .351 batting average, three homers, two triples, eight doubles, 23 RBIs, 23 runs, 17 walks and nine stolen bases.

She had an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.091.

Heffernan made just one error while posting a .980 fielding percentage.

Martinez, a junior shortstop, was a unanimous pick.

She batted .441 with one homer, three doubles, nine doubles, 19 RBIs, 20 runs and eight stolen bases.

Martinez had an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.230.

“Every coach voted for her and that’s with her missing four league games because of injuries,” Corsaut said. “She just works had. She takes extra batting practice and groundballs. She loves the game.”

Montesdeoca, a freshman second baseman, batted .587 with two homers, two triples, 10 doubles, 24 RBIs, 50 runs and 21 stolen bases.

She had an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.435.

“I knew she was a pretty good ball player before the season started, but I didn’t think she’d be this good,” Corsaut said. “She has so much talent. She’s got speed. She can hit for power. She’s got a good glove and arm. She’s a five-tool player.”

Giraldes, Cole and De La Torre were selected to the WAC Second Team.

“Alizae and Isabela should have been First Team,” Corsaut said.

Giraldes, a sophomore first baseman, batted .511 with one homer, five triples, nine doubles, 43 RBIs, 26 runs and seven stolen bases.

She had an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.290.

She also contributed at pitcher.

Giraldes compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.85 ERA and 38 strikeouts.

“She wants to do her best every time she plays the game,” Corsaut said.

Cole, a freshman outfielder, batted .506 with four homers, three triples, eight doubles, 36 RBIs and 30 runs.

She had an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.369.

“She’s another freshman that exceeded expectations,” Corsaut said.

De La Torre, a senior outfielder, batted .314 with one triple, two doubles, eight RBIs and 16 runs.

“I didn’t expect her to hit over .400 in league,” Corsaut said. “She played really good defense. She worked hard to get better. There was great improvement over last year.”

Isabela Giraldes
Ceres High sophomore Isabela Giraldes was selected to the WAC Second Team. She batted .511 from the plate with one homer, five triples, nine doubles, 43 RBIs, 26 runs and seven stolen bases. - photo by Dale Butler