Central Valley High School's varsity baseball team found itself in unfamiliar territory during the last day of the Western Athletic Conference season.
The Hawks had an outside chance at making the playoffs for the first time in program history.
Central Valley needed a win versus Patterson and a Los Banos loss to Livingston to secure the league's third and final postseason berth.
The Wolves did their part, rallying for a 4-3 victory.
The Hawks never threatened in losing 9-1 to Patterson on Tuesday, May 8 in Ceres.
"We were in the position we wanted to be in," Central Valley head coach Greg Magni said. "We picked the wrong day to play poorly. Once we fell behind 6-0, it changed the entire landscape of the game. It's our own fault. We put too much pressure on ourselves."
The Hawks (12-14-1, 5-7) finished in three-way tie for fourth place in the WAC standings with Livingston and Los Banos. Central Catholic (11-1), Ceres High (8-4) and Patterson (7-5) took first, second and third, respectively. First-year Pacheco (1-11) was last.
"We definitely exceeded expectations this season," Magni said. "A lot of people thought we'd finish last or close to it."
Central Valley shut out Patterson 6-0 on April 5.
Patterson scored six runs, five unearned, with two down in the top of the second inning during the rematch. Central Valley hurt itself by committing two errors and yielding three walks.
"We didn't play defense," said Magni, whose team totaled five errors in defeat. "That was our downfall."
Central Valley mustered just six hits in 33 at-bats with six strikeouts.
The Hawks had no extra base hits.
Ryan Walters finished 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Jorge Alvarez collected two singles.
Fabian Valencia scored once.
Alex Lomeli and Ruben Casas both singled.
Patterson starting pitcher Jake Thompson surrendered just one run and four hits over six innings. He had five strikeouts and three walks.
Central Valley faced a 9-0 deficit heading into the sixth inning.
"Offensively, we couldn't get anything done," Magni said.
Casas started at pitcher for the Hawks.
The right-handed junior allowed six runs (one earned) and three hits with three strikeouts and four walks in 12/3 innings.
Sophomore Michael Ereso, Ruben's replacement, provided 11/3 innings of relief. He gave up one run and two hits with one strikeout.
Central Valley senior Alex Lomeli pitched for the final time when he relieved Ereso. Lomeli yielded two runs and three hits with four strikeouts and one walk in four innings.
Coach Magni held a pre-game ceremony for his senior players, including Lomeli, Valenica, Walters, Cody Chesney, Jed Cundiff and Anthony Amirfar.
"All six of them heavily contributed," Magni said. "They'll be missed. They should be very proud of themselves. They represented Central Valley with pride."
Casas, Ereso, Alvarez, Sidney Long, Jeff Reeves, Juan Plasencia and Raul Godinez will try to lead the Hawks to record heights in 2013.
"We've very optimistic about the future," Magni said. "The league as a whole will be even better next year. We're hoping this experience will help our returners."
The Hawks had an outside chance at making the playoffs for the first time in program history.
Central Valley needed a win versus Patterson and a Los Banos loss to Livingston to secure the league's third and final postseason berth.
The Wolves did their part, rallying for a 4-3 victory.
The Hawks never threatened in losing 9-1 to Patterson on Tuesday, May 8 in Ceres.
"We were in the position we wanted to be in," Central Valley head coach Greg Magni said. "We picked the wrong day to play poorly. Once we fell behind 6-0, it changed the entire landscape of the game. It's our own fault. We put too much pressure on ourselves."
The Hawks (12-14-1, 5-7) finished in three-way tie for fourth place in the WAC standings with Livingston and Los Banos. Central Catholic (11-1), Ceres High (8-4) and Patterson (7-5) took first, second and third, respectively. First-year Pacheco (1-11) was last.
"We definitely exceeded expectations this season," Magni said. "A lot of people thought we'd finish last or close to it."
Central Valley shut out Patterson 6-0 on April 5.
Patterson scored six runs, five unearned, with two down in the top of the second inning during the rematch. Central Valley hurt itself by committing two errors and yielding three walks.
"We didn't play defense," said Magni, whose team totaled five errors in defeat. "That was our downfall."
Central Valley mustered just six hits in 33 at-bats with six strikeouts.
The Hawks had no extra base hits.
Ryan Walters finished 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Jorge Alvarez collected two singles.
Fabian Valencia scored once.
Alex Lomeli and Ruben Casas both singled.
Patterson starting pitcher Jake Thompson surrendered just one run and four hits over six innings. He had five strikeouts and three walks.
Central Valley faced a 9-0 deficit heading into the sixth inning.
"Offensively, we couldn't get anything done," Magni said.
Casas started at pitcher for the Hawks.
The right-handed junior allowed six runs (one earned) and three hits with three strikeouts and four walks in 12/3 innings.
Sophomore Michael Ereso, Ruben's replacement, provided 11/3 innings of relief. He gave up one run and two hits with one strikeout.
Central Valley senior Alex Lomeli pitched for the final time when he relieved Ereso. Lomeli yielded two runs and three hits with four strikeouts and one walk in four innings.
Coach Magni held a pre-game ceremony for his senior players, including Lomeli, Valenica, Walters, Cody Chesney, Jed Cundiff and Anthony Amirfar.
"All six of them heavily contributed," Magni said. "They'll be missed. They should be very proud of themselves. They represented Central Valley with pride."
Casas, Ereso, Alvarez, Sidney Long, Jeff Reeves, Juan Plasencia and Raul Godinez will try to lead the Hawks to record heights in 2013.
"We've very optimistic about the future," Magni said. "The league as a whole will be even better next year. We're hoping this experience will help our returners."
