Central Valley hasn't had much luck against Ceres recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Hawks will host the Bulldogs at 4:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Central Valley lost a heartbreaker the last time they played Lathrop, but it's fair to say they got their revenge given the result of Monday's game. The Hawks' pitcher stepped up to hand the Spartans an 8-0 shutout on Monday. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Hawks as it put an end to their four-game losing streak.
The result came thanks to Gabriela Delatorre's shutout, as she gave up just three hits and racked up eight Ks.
Abigail Krauss
| 04/28/25 @ Lathrop | 4 |
| 02/11/25 vs Pitman | 3 |
| 04/16/25 @ Johansen | 2 |
| 02/26/25 @ Downey | 2 |
| 02/24/25 @ Hilmar | 2 |
On the hitting side, Abigail Krauss was excellent, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, one run, and one double. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high. Valerie Espinoza was another key player, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Central Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 7-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Ceres made easy work of Beyer on Monday and carried off a 7-1 win. That's two games straight that the Bulldogs have won by exactly six runs.
Alizae Cole spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on six hits and racked up seven Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in ten consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Kylie Bond, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and four RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Bella Bravo, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Ceres pushed their record up to 17-9 with the victory, which was their seventh straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Central Valley, they now have a winning record of 13-12.
Wednesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Central Valley has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .434. However, it's not like Ceres struggles in that department as they've averaged .481. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Central Valley might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Ceres when the teams last played on April 2nd. Will the Hawks have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
