Ceres High’s softball team won twice by shutout in Western Athletic Conference play this past week.

The second-place Bulldogs defeated the first-place Los Banos Tigers 7-0 on the road on May 4.

Ceres High avenged a 3-1 loss.

“Energy and focus,” Bulldogs’ head coach Mike Corsaut said. “They were ready to play. They wanted revenge.”

Ceres High pitcher Brooklyn Heffernan (13-5) totaled 11 strikeouts in seven innings.

She allowed no runs and three hits.

“She did what she needed to do,” Corsaut said. “We didn’t give her any run support the first time. We only scored once.”

The Bulldogs collected 10 hits during the rematch.

“We were more patient,” Corsaut said.

Heffernan batted 1-for-4 from the plate with one double.

Freshman Alizae Cole batted 2-for-4 with one homer, four RBIs and one run.

Freshman Ava Montesdeoca batted 3-for-3 with one RBI and three runs.

Alayna DelaTorre batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run.

Sehren Martinez batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Antonia Solis singled.

Cole crushed a three-run homer over the right-center field fence in the bottom of the first inning.

“It’s fun to watch Alizae swing,” Corsaut said. “She’s going to be really good. She has a ton of potential.”

Ceres High improved to 18-8 overall and 11-2 in the WAC standings after cruising to an 18-0 mercy-rule win against visiting Mountain House on May 6.

Heffernan pitched a one-hitter.

She had nine strikeouts in five innings.

The Bulldogs totaled 22 hits.

“Everybody contributed,” Corsaut said.

Heffernan batted 3-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and three runs.

Freshman Nani Sagapolu batted 2-for-3 with one double, three RBIs and two runs.

Freshman Maddie Schultz batted 2-for-3 with one double, one RBI and three runs.

Emma Johnson batted 2-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.

Isabela Giraldes batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.

Martinez batted 3-for-4 with one double, two RBIs and one run.

Kareli Hernandez batted 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run.

Montesdeoca batted 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs.

Tatum George batted 1-for-1 with one double, one RBI and one run.

Cole scored once.

Freshman Kylie Bond singled.

Ceres High will close out the WAC season this week.

The Bulldogs will play host to the Grace Davis Spartans today at 4 p.m.

Ceres High won the first meeting, 13-1.

Gauchos 5, Hawks 2

Central Valley’s softball team lost 5-2 at El Capitan on Thursday.

The Hawks defeated the Gauchos 9-5 on March 31.

Central Valley fell to 6-15 overall and 4-6 in the Central California Conference standings.

The Hawks dropped into a three-way tie for third place in the CCC with El Capitan and Patterson.

The top four teams in league will be awarded playoff berths at the end of the regular season.

Merced (10-1), Atwater (7-3) and Golden Valley (7-3) have already clinched spots.

Central Valley’s final two conference games are against Buhach Colony and Golden Valley.

Hawk pitcher Janessa Godinez allowed four earned runs and six hits with one strikeout and two walks versus the Gauchos last week.

Priscilla Hamidat batted 2-for-2 from the plate with two doubles, one RBI and one run.

Victoria Lloyd batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Kylie Maines, Micaela Martinez, Allie Peterman and Jannet Valenica all singled.