Denair’s bats have come to life in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 softball playoffs, propelling the Coyotes into the championship game Saturday against Foresthill.

Denair (14-9) – seeded second in the eight-team bracket – defeated No. 7 Elliot Christian of Lodi 20-10 and then knocked off No. 5 Vacaville Christian 13-3 to reach the final game. Top-seeded Foresthill (10-5) also cruised into the championship game with dominating wins – 16-6 over Esparto and 19-17 over Valley Christian of Roseville.

The championship game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Modesto Junior College West campus.

Despite the lopsided final score, Denair’s first game against Elliot Christian was tied 10-10 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. That’s when the Coyotes exploded for 10 runs – turning a tight contest into a runaway that was called because of the mercy rule.

Six Denair players drove in at least two runs, led by Makayla Dayton with three RBIs and two hits. Braelyn Marroquin went 4-for-5 and knocked in two runs, Daisy Rosas had three hits and two RBIs, and Cloey Ellard, Aaliyah Rodriguez and Kenzie Prine also drove in two runs.

Denair had 17 hits in the game compared to seven by Elliot Christian, but the Coyotes made five errors on defense that kept their opponents close.

In the win over Vacaville Christian, nine-place hitter Havyn Boucher went 4-for-5, scored three times and knocked in three runs for Denair. Marroquin also had two RBIs for the Coyotes, who took advantage of seven Vacaville Christian errors.

Makayla Dayton pitched all six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out four.

The run to the Section finals caps a remarkable turnaround for Denair that began last year with coaches Andy Dayton and Chad Boucher taking over. After not winning more than three games in a season for 17 years, the Coyotes went 8-12 in 2024 and then finished fourth in the very competitive Southern League this season. The three teams ahead of the Coyotes in the standings – Le Grand, Mariposa and Stone Ridge Christian – all made the Division 6 playoffs.

Denair heads into this week’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4/5 track and field meet on a roll, led by an exceptional group of boys who dominated the Southern League this year.

The Coyotes’ boys team walked away with nine first-place finishes at last week’s SL meet to cement their league championship.

Jude Moody led the way with three wins (triple jump and both hurdles races). Sal Virgen won the 1,600-meter run and was part of the winning 4×800 relay team that included Chace Butler, Jorge Flores and Jose Ponce.

Denair’s other league champions were Jesse Ruelas (pole vault), Eduardo Zacarias (shot put), Jose Mora (discus) and Chase Steeley (long jump).

Denair’s girls – who finished third in the Southern League – also had a number of qualifiers for this week’s meet.

The 4×800 relay team of Addyson Ramos, Mackenzie Binkley, Angelique Quijano, and Alizey Gonzalez finished first. Ramos also was second in the 800 and fourth in the 3,200. Gonzalez was third in the 800 and Binkley was fourth in the triple jump.

Andrea Padilla finished second in the 400, Ana Renteria was second in the triple jump and Jayden Reece took second in the high jump.

The Division 4/5 meet will be held at Riverbank High School. The trials are Wednesday and the finals are Friday.

The top four finishers in each event will quality for the Masters meet May 23-24 at Folsom High School. 

A turnaround that began last season with a new coaching staff and an infusion of young, talented players will take another step forward Tuesday when the Denair High softball team hosts a playoff game for the first time in a generation.

When the pairings for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 playoffs were announced Friday, Denair (12-9) earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round home matchup against No. 7 Elliot Christian (3-7) of Lodi. 

Denair finished fourth in the very competitive Southern League this season. The three teams ahead of the Coyotes in the standings – Le Grand, Mariposa and Stone Ridge Christian – all qualified for the Division 6 playoffs.

Making the playoffs checks off another box for Coach Andy Dayton and his assistant, Chad Boucher. A year ago, they took over a program that had not won more than three games in a season in 17 years. They went 8-12 in 2024 and now are one of eight teams competing for a Section title in Division 7.

“We came to Denair — Chad as denair alumni and me from Hilmar — wanting to change the culture and creating a winning format at Denair,” Dayton said. “That begins with coaching and teaching proper mechanics and giving the girls hope and drive that they know they can win with work.”

Junior third baseman Braelyn Marroquin leads in the Coyotes in many offensive categories – average (.500), hits (32), home runs (3), runs batted in (28) and runs scored (39).

“She is an exceptional athlete, and her defense and base running is very tenacious and aggressive,” Dayton said. “She has a great bat and it is always getting better.”

Sophomore Kenzie Prine (.429, 27 RBIs, 11 doubles), senior Makayla Dayton (.414, 16 RBIs, 7 doubles) and sophomore Avery Nilsson (.345, 23 RBIs, 8 doubles) also are key contributors to the Coyotes’ attack.

On the mound, Dayton has been the ace with a 7-2 record and 110 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings. Prine (2-1, 32 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings) pitches when Dayton needs a rest.

“Makayla has put in countless hours on her pitching and has paid off as multiple colleges are looking at her,” said Dayton of his daughter. “Kenzie is training to be the future ace of the staff the next few years and she has big power potential. Avery is a savior with her catching and she has lots of growth coming as she is also a sophomore with Kenzie.”

If the Coyotes win Tuesday, they will host either No. 3 Delta Charter (8-5) of Tracy or No. 6 Vacaville Christian (5-10) on Thursday in the semifinals. The championship game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Modesto Junior College west campus.

Crystal Sousa, who served for seven years on the Denair Unified Board of Trustees before her resignation in March, will return to the district in a new role in the next school year – principal of Denair Elementary Charter Academy.

The move was announced at Thursday night’s board meeting and shared Friday morning with DECA staff and the rest of the district’s employees.

Sousa has nearly two decades of educational experience, including the past six as an administrator with the Merced County Office of Education, where she led Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and restorative practices across charter and alternative programs.

“The selection team included parents, teachers, classified staff and administrators,” said Denair Superintendent Terry Metzger. “The team unanimously felt that Mrs. Sousa is an excellent match for DECA and that she will help us reach our goals of academic excellence, having a positive and safe campus, and fostering belonging for all students and families. We’re all excited for her to (re)join the Denair Team.

Sousa was twice elected to the Denair Unified board, where she helped set policy and establish a direction for the district. Her new role will give her an entirely different set of responsibilities.

“I understand that transitioning from a governance role to site leadership requires shifting from policy-setting to policy implementation, but this is a strength,” she said. “My experience as a trustee has provided me with a solid understanding of the district’s goals, priorities, and values. I am excited to help bring those policies to life at the school level.

“Moving forward, my focus will be on fostering collaboration, consistency, and clear communication as I work to support students, staff, and families every day.”

DECA is home to nearly 600 students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. As a charter school, it has a strong reputation for academics and its multi-cultural approach to education. It also is known for its Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, in which many students participate. They are taught in English and Spanish.

“We have a unique campus with amazing educational opportunities for all students,” Sousa said. “We have a strong traditional program, DLI, preschool, a solid special education program, and the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), all reflecting DECA’s commitment to whole-child development, academic excellence, and equitable access to learning.”

As a trustee, Sousa advocated for programs promoting biliteracy and cultural understanding, including DLI.

“DLI is important because it empowers students to become bilingual, biliterate, and culturally competent, skills that enhance cognitive development and prepare students to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world,” she said.

Sousa said her primary goal at DECA is to strengthen the strong foundation that already exists by continuing to build a safe, inclusive, and academically rigorous environment where all students feel supported and challenged.

“I plan to focus on fostering strong relationships with students, staff, and families while supporting the continued implementation of MTSS and PBIS to meet the diverse needs of all learners,” she said.

One challenge she anticipates is to rebuild trust and stability after several years of administrative turnover at DECA.

“I understand that staff, students, and families may need time to feel confident in my long-term commitment to the school,” Sousa said. “I plan to approach this with consistency, transparency, and a strong presence on campus, showing through my actions that I am here for the long haul and fully invested in DECA’s success.”

Sousa will replace Laura Cardenas, who has led the campus since 2023 and is stepping aside to care for her mother.

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from Legacy Health Endowment, the popular free summer food program run through the Denair High School and Denair Middle School kitchens will be expanded this year to include adults.

Beginning with the start of summer school on May 27, hundreds of breakfasts, lunches and suppers will be served daily – at no cost – to children, adults and seniors who live in the Denair community.

At Thursday night’s meeting of the Denair Unified School District board, trustees gratefully accepted the grant from Legacy, a nonprofit based in Turlock that seeks to improve the health of all residents in its service area. Providing nutritious and delicious food made from scratch certainly fits with that mission.

The project aims to combat food insecurity during the summer school break, ensuring families have consistent access to healthy meals before the new school year begins.

The summer food program is also funded through state and federal grants. It doesn’t cost the school district anything.

Meal times and locations will be:

• Breakfast: 7:30-9 a.m. at Denair Middle School
• Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., also at the middle school
• Dinner: 4-6 p.m. at Denair High School

The food program will run Monday through Friday through July 25, with the exception of July 1-4, when the staff will take a break.

In previous years, Food Services Manager Fuentez said about 250 children 18 and younger were served daily during May and June, when summer school was in session. She expects those numbers to dramatically rise this year with the addition of adults and an extra month of service.

Fuentez invited residents to “come and enjoy fresh and homemade happiness served at your local schools.” There will be plenty of space in both dining rooms for people to relax and enjoy their meals.

Typical menus will include homemade protein-rich breakfast burritos and breakfast bowls; lunches will feature tacos, spaghetti and a BBQ every Friday; and suppers will have an  Italian theme on Monday, Mexican on Tuesday and Asian on Thursday. Wednesday supper will be diner food such as meatloaf, roasted chicken, and baked macaroni and cheese. Fridays could be BBQ or a repeat of something popular earlier in the week.

Fuentez and her team of eight employees will do all the cooking.

“Each one has a servant’s heart and cooking soul, ready to create healthy and tasty meals,” she said.

The grant from Legacy Health will cover more than just food.

Students and families also will be eligible for free medical care through Community Health Centers of America. Where necessary, medical services can be provided in the home to ease the burden of travel to a medical facility. A research team is being formed by Legacy Health to determine the impact of the pilot project medically and financially.

In other action Thursday, the board: 

• Joined the audience in applause after Trustee Billy Myers announced at the beginning of the meeting that a former board member – Crystal Sousa – will take over as principal at Denair Elementary Charter Academy for the 2025-26 school year. Sousa was twice elected to the Denair board, but resigned March 14. She will replace Laura Cardenas, who announced in April she would be stepping down to help care for her elderly mother.
• Honored three retiring employees — independent study teacher Betsy Clark, district nurse Teresa Hodges and food service worker Rebecca Sullivan.
• Recognized 12 Denair High students who have earned the State Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas — Andrea Mendoza, Andrea Padilla, Andrea Vasquez, Araceli Andrade, Ashley Hermosillo, Christopher Vilchis Perez, Darrelle Perez Reyes, Gabriela Verduzco Jacobo, Guillermo Arguelles Bravo, Hillary Perez, Oscar Bautista Ochoa and Vanessa Palacios. All have passed tests certifying they are fluent in English and Spanish.
• Thanked student board member Zachary Christianson for his service the past two years.
• Approved an agreement with the Denair Unified Teachers Association to conclude negotiations for the 2024-25 school year. The agreement includes a one-time payment equal to 4.39% in lieu of an ongoing increase to the salary schedule and increases some stipends that teachers receive based on degrees or credentials held.
• Heard a report from Denair High ag instructor Roger Christianson, who shared that there 141 FFA students in Denair. Of that number, 80 participated in Ag Day on April 17. That event drew about 1,000 students from all the school sites to the high school. For elementary students, the morning activities included three lessons on agriculture, a petting zoo, a tour of the vendors, and a picture with the Easter Bunny. Later, middle school and high school students enjoyed a BBQ lunch while checking out the animals and touring booths set up by nearly two dozen local vendors. Christianson also reported that 33% of the high school FFA members are enrolled in courses that could earn them credits at Modesto Junior College.