Ceres High School senior multi-sport standout Vianney Perez has been named a Western Athletic Conference Female Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for the 2019-20 academic year.

“I’m happy I got it,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it. It feels good being appreciated.”

Perez currently has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6

“School has always been a priority,” she said. “I learned about time management at a young age.”

Perez’s senior class schedule consists of anatomy, Finite Math, government, English, leadership and Peer Assisted Learning (works with special-needs students).

“Each year, I’ve grown as a person and player,” she said. “I’ve learned so many different things. I tried to be a role model for other students and my teammates.”

Perez earned a softball scholarship to Cal State Monterey Bay.

“It took a lot of hard work,” she said. “It didn’t happen overnight. Me and my family have made a lot of sacrifices for this.”

“My parents are my backbone,” Perez added. “They’re a big reason why I am where I am today, along with my coaches.”

Ceres High will be sending another softball player to the college ranks.

Perez follows in the footsteps of Nicole “Sis” Bates (Washington), Mahlena O’Neal (Georgia), Callie Nunes (Concordia University), Rayohna Sagapolu (San Jose State) and Shania Evans (Humboldt State).

She will major in psychology. 

“Softball has gotten me to where I am today,” Perez said. “I missed school dances and leadership events for tournaments. I don’t regret choosing softball over a social life.”

Perez earned six varsity letters during her prep athletic career, including four in softball and two in volleyball.

She was a four-year standout in softball.

Perez was enjoying her best season to date at Ceres High prior to the 2020 campaign being cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She hit .636 (14-for-22) with two homers, two triples, six RBIs and 14 runs while batting leadoff for the 6-2 Bulldogs.

Perez had on-base, slugging and on-base plus slugging percentages of .724, 1.090 and 1.815, respectively.

She ranked first on the team in batting average, hits, homers, triples, RBIs, runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage.

“I put in a lot of extra work outside of regular practices,” she said. 

Perez earned first-team all-conference honors her junior, sophomore and freshman years.

She would have been in the running for the 2020 WAC Most Valuable Player award had the season not been postponed. 

“I feel really lucky to be on a team with so many talented girls that were willing to get better for the team,” she said. 

In 76 career games, Perez posted a batting average of .414 with 99 hits, 16 homers, 11 triples, 20 doubles, 72 RBIs and 83 runs. 

She had slugging and on-base percentages of .790 and .478.

Perez helped lead Ceres High to 51 wins, two conference titles and three playoff appearances.

The Bulldogs won league championships her junior and freshman years.

“I did the best I could for my coaches and team,” she said.

Perez was an honorable-mention selection in volleyball as a junior.

“It was a fun sport to play,” she said. “We always got pushed by our coaches. We tried to improve each year.”