When Andrew Kommavong’s junior season of baseball at Ceres High School got cut short in the spring of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, he remained dedicated to his craft.
“I perfected my hitting and baseball in general during the break,” he said. “I’d go to my uncle’s house and hit in his cage. I worked out every night. I ate right and drank my shakes. I’m lucky it paid off senior year.”
Kommavong earned first-team, all-Western Athletic Conference South Division honors during his final season with the Bulldogs.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I have a bunch of coaches I can’t thank enough. Coaches (Clinton) Goblirsch and (Brent) Bussard pushed me a lot. He (Bussard) taught me everything he learned in college, which really helped me. I’m really thankful for that.”
Kommavong, a 170-pound senior outfielder, batted .421 from the plate with 16 hits, six doubles, nine RBIs, 14 runs and five steals.
He had on-base, slugging, on-base plus slugging and fielding percentages of .547, .605, 1.152 and .964, respectively.
Kommavong had just one error on defense.
Kommavong was promoted to Ceres High’s varsity baseball team as a sophomore.
He batted .298 with 36 hits, one triple, 11 doubles, 14 RBIs, 35 runs and nine stolen bases in 45 career games.
“My goal since I started playing in high school was to play at the next level. I love baseball.”Andrew Kommavong
“I’m happy with how I did,” he said. “It was a blessing to be a three-year starter. My goal since I started playing in high school was to play at the next level. I love baseball. I love playing it.”
Kommavong will continue his baseball career at Modesto Junior College.
Bulldog teammates Josh Prestridge and Noel Anaya garnered first-team, all-league accolades as well.
Prestridge, a sophomore third baseman, batted .390 with 15 hits, seven doubles, 11 RBIs and 15 runs.
He had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .526, .560 and 1.087.
Anaya, a junior pitcher/designated hitter, batted .333 with 17 hits, four doubles, 13 RBIs and nine runs. He compiled a 2-3 record with a 2.43 earned-run average, 33 strikeouts, 16 walks and one no-hitter in 312/3 innings.
The Bulldogs compiled a 10-8 overall record and had a 7-5 mark against WAC competition.
Ceres High (4-5) finished third in the WAC South standings behind Central Valley and Los Banos.
Ceres High topped Pacheco three times and won one of three games against Los Banos.
Ceres High swept WAC North member Grace Davis.
The Bulldogs won nine of their final 11 games following a 1-6 start.
“We didn’t know if we were going to have a season (because of COVID-19),” Kommavong said. “Luckily, we did.”
“We had a really young team,” he added. “We only had two seniors. A lot of people stepped up.”
