Video: Raegan Breedlove highlights See the Oregon-bound pitcher, who can also hit.
Later that evening, longtime Falcons coach Randy Rudd died after a four-year battle with cancer.
"He was the first thing I thought of after we won," Breedlove said.
Ten days later, Central Valley's season would end at 4-0-1 as the coronavirus pandemic canceled the remainder of spring sports in California.
Breedlove, Central Valley's lone senior, said losing her final prep year is sad. Not being able to honor Rudd's memory is heartbreaking.
"Raegan has struggled with losing Randy more than playing," said her father Jeff, who had assisted Rudd for the past four years. "We had dedicated the year to him and she wanted to do well for Randy."
And she was. Raegan Breedlove was 4-0 with 65 strikeouts in 25 innings. The Oregon-bound pitcher had tossed a one-hitter, perfect game and had a 17-strikeout day in consecutive starts. She was the winning pitcher on the day Rudd died.
"We wanted to win sections and wanted to win for coach," she said. "We always ended with ‘Play for Randy.' "
Randy Rudd died March 3 after a four-year battle with cancer. He'd coached Central Valley for the past decade.
Photo courtesy of Ron Harrington / Shasta Lake Bulletin
Rudd started coaching for the Falcons in 2009 when his daughter went to the school and the team needed a coach.
"He got into it because of her and stayed because a new group of girls would come in and he'd say ‘I can't leave them,' " Jeff Breedlove said. "He built this program. He built the dugouts, put endless time into the field and most of the money he made from coaching went right back into helping the girls."
Because of coronavirus restrictions, a memorial at the school was postponed. Additionally, Breedlove said a sign that read "Rudd's House" will be placed on the backstop at a later date.
Rudd, a California Highway Patrol officer, was diagnosed with cancer four years ago but kept coaching through treatment and chemotherapy. He was 55.
Toward the end of last season Jeff Breedlove said he knew Rudd likely wouldn't be able to coach into the 2020 season.
"He was always upbeat, saying 'I'll be out there with you guys,' " Jeff Breedlove said.
Raegan Breedlove said she's grateful for the past three seasons with Rudd and while she can't honor him this season with the Falcons, she will take his memory with her to play for the Ducks next year.
"Oregon has the pink and white uniforms for cancer survivors where they write a name on their visor and I'm going to put his name on mine," she said. "I'm always going to play for him. I'll never be able to let that go."
Raegan Breedlove, Central Valley
Photo courtesy of Ron Harrington / Shasta Lake Bulletin
