Seniors Enrique Lepe and Jesus Hernandez represented Central Valley High School’s boys tennis program for the final time this past month.

Lepe and Hernandez both advanced to the quarterfinals of the Central California Conference’s Singles and Doubles Tournaments.

Hawk teammates Dylan Chauhan (Jr.) and Kai Sivongxay (So.) gained valuable experience while competing at the league finals.

Lepe and Hernandez compiled identical 1-1 records at the CCC Singles Championships on April 25 in Merced.

“It was awesome to see both of them get victories,” head coach Alexis Villa said. “We’re proud of them.”

Lepe topped El Capitan’s No. 3 player 6-3, 7-5 in the opening round.

“He was locked in,” Villa said. “He knew what he needed to do. He attacked the other kid’s weaknesses.”

Lepe lost to Buhach Colony’s No. 1 player for the third time this season.

Lepe was beaten in straight sets ( 6-3, 6-4).

“It’s a tough matchup,” Villa said. “Enrique likes to play with pace and power. The other kid is like a brick wall. Somehow, he always returns the ball.”

“It was really competitive,” he added. “The sets were close.”

Hernandez upset Golden Valley’s No. 1 player 1-6, 6-1, 10-8 in the opening round.

“I’m not really surprised,” Villa said. “They have different playing styles. Every time the Golden Valley kid rushed the net, Jesus got a good shot around him. Jesus is very good at placing the ball.”

Hernandez lost 6-4, 6-1 to Patterson’s No. 1 player, who was also the top seed and Most Valuable Player of the CCC.

“Jesus got tired,” Villa said. “He expended a lot of energy in his first match.”

Lepe and Hernandez won one of two matches while teaming up at the CCC Doubles Championships on April 27 in Merced.

They won 6-2, 6-1 versus Buhach Colony’s No. 2 doubles team in the first round.

Lepe and Hernandez lost 6-2, 6-4 to El Capitan’s No. 1 doubles team in the quarterfinals.

“They should have advanced a little further,” Villa said. “Their net play and positioning wasn’t as efficient as it should have been.”

Chauhan and Sivongxay lost 6-0, 6-1 to Atwater’s No. 1 doubles team.

“The effort was there,” Villa said. “They played with heart. It was a good learning experience for them. Next year, they’ll be our top two returners.”

Lepe and Hernandez will be lost to graduation.

“They set the example for the younger kids,” Villa said. “They showed them they have to put in the work. I appreciate them for that.”

SOFTBALL

Ceres High’s softball team lost 10-9 to host Mountain House in a key Western Athletic Conference game on Thursday.

The Mustangs exacted revenge for a 9-3 loss and knocked the Bulldogs out of first place in the WAC standings.

The Bulldogs (13-7, 9-3) dropped to second in league.

The Mustangs (12-10, 8-3) moved into a two-way tie for third place with Pacheco.

Los Banos (14-7, 9-2) has a one-game lead over Ceres High heading into the final week of the WAC season.

The top three teams will be awarded playoff berths.

“We’re still in a position to win a share of the WAC title,” Bulldogs’ head coach Mike Corsaut said. “We got to win out.”

Ceres High and Mountain House combined for 29 hits during the second meeting between the two teams.

There were six lead changes.

Down 7-6, the Bulldogs scored three times in the top of the seventh to take a 9-7 lead.

The Mustangs tallied three runs in the bottom half of the inning to secure the victory. McKenna Behling’s line-drive hit down the first-base line propelled the Mustangs past the Bulldogs.

“The girls are disappointed,” Corsaut said. “It’s a game they know they should have won. We just couldn’t hold the lead. Mountain House is a good hitting team. We got to tip our caps.”

Ceres High’s Natalie Gomes batted 2-for-2 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs against Mountain House.

Sehren Martinez batted 3-for-5 with one triple, three RBIs and one run.

Alizae Cole batted 4-for-5 with one double, one RBI and one run.

Ava Montesdeoca and Maddie Schultz both batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

Nani Sagapolu batted 1-for-4 with one run.

Bulldog pitcher Kylie Bond allowed 10 runs and 10 hits with three strikeouts and five walks in 61/3 innings.

The Bulldogs will close out the WAC season with games against Grace Davis and Los Banos this week.

Ceres High will play host to Los Banos on Senior Day today at 4 p.m. The Tigers won the first meeting, 8-2.

The Bulldogs have won six league titles in the past nine years.

“I think we’ll handle our business and get ready for playoffs,” Corsaut said.