In the span of two short seasons, Denair went from softball also ran to runner-up for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 championship. The fact that the Coyotes fell just short Saturday – losing 7-6 to Foresthill in the final game – does nothing to diminish how successful a season this was.

“We think we have sent the message on culture change,” said second-year head coach Andy Dayton. “These girls and community have seen a change. My assistant coach, Chad Boucher, and I will hit the ground running immediately getting these girls on board and push on the mechanics of the game and correcting anything and to make us better and give this community and girls what they deserve — a competitive and winning culture.”

Until last season, Denair had not won more than three games in 17 years. The Coyotes went 8-12 in 2024 and then finished fourth in the very competitive Southern League this season to earn the No. 2 seed in the Division 7 playoffs.

Denair (14-10) defeated No. 7 Elliot Christian of Lodi 20-10 and then knocked off No. 5 Vacaville Christian 13-3 to reach the championship game against top-seeded Foresthill (10-5).

Denair jumped in front with a run in the bottom of the first inning, only to see Foresthill rally to take a 2-1 lead after three innings.

Then in the bottom of the fourth, Denair erupted for five runs – three of them on a bases-loaded triple by Kenzie Prine. 

Unfortunately, the Coyotes’ 6-2 lead didn’t last long. Foresthill rallied for five runs of its own in the fifth inning to go back in front 7-6, which turned out to be the final score.

“We were just a tad off balance and not completely being ourselves. Just not quite as disciplined as what got us there,” Dayton said of the final game. “Credit to their pitcher. She just kept driving and keeping us off balance. We did have quite a few hits that went up the middle right to her. If they were off to the left or right a little, we’re talking a different game, but the ball didn’t bounce our way.”

Still, Denair has taken major strides to revive a program that has already come a long way in a short time. The Coyotes will lose two of their best players — pitcher Makayla Dayton and shortstop Havyn Boucher – to graduation but are expected to return most of the rest of the team.

“We’re losing our shortstop and pitcher this year,” Andy Dayton said. “They will all be back besides that. We have heard we have a decent crop of freshmen coming in with some experience.”

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.