Eighteen students have been named 2009 dean’s medalists at California State University, Fresno:UNDERGRADUATE

Highlights and box scores from Central Section baseball playoff games as reported to The Fresno Bee:BASEBALL In Division II, Harper White had a two-run homer in the second inning, leading top seed El Diamante past No. 16 Garces 15-5.

There was nothing to suggest that Clovis High was a threat when the Central Section softball playoffs began this week.The Cougars tied for fourth in the Tri-River Athletic Conference and were the No. 9 seed among 10 teams in Division I — an afterthought at best.But not in the mind of Cougars pitcher Kacy Moritz.

Most central San Joaquin Valley schools are in the bottom half of schools statewide, according to the latest rankings released today by the California Department of Education.

SOFTBALL
Regina Silva had a three-run walk-off home run in No. 4 El Diamante’s 7-5 victory over No. 5 Frontier in a D-II game. Angela Mendoza scored on a fielding error in the third inning, and Morgan Reiter pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts as No. 3 Central defeated No. 6 Liberty-Bakersfield in D-I.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Behind Gabe Maddox’s 29 assists, No. 3 Buchanan outlasted No. 6 Clovis 30-32, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-10. Steven Trotter added 23 assists for the Bears. Kevin Polkinghorne had 27 assists and Derek Walters slammed 11 kills as Clovis West swept Madera South.