The Ceres Sizzle 12-and-under travel softball team has demonstrated impressive performance this fall by securing first place for the second time. The team celebrated their victory at the NSA Labor Day Tournament, held from August 31 to September 1 at Rainbow Fields, where they received a plaque and championship rings.
Ceres Sizzle head coach Jon Harris praised the team’s efforts, stating, “They played great, the way they were supposed to.” The team managed to win all five of their games during the tournament, showcasing timely hitting and strong defense throughout the competition.
In a thrilling championship game on September 1, Ceres narrowly defeated Firecrackers Martinez-Black 8-7 in extra innings, bouncing back from a previous 6-5 loss. The contest was determined by the international tiebreaker rule, where teams began the fifth inning with a runner on second base. Trailing 7-6, Ceres scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to clinch the win, thanks to a clutch single from Vanessa Berber, who brought home Layla Scott and Brynley Aiello.
Harris remarked on the exciting conclusion, noting, “The ending was pretty incredible. Vanessa had a good at-bat.” The team’s collective batting average for the tournament was .368, tallying seven hits and five walks.
Key performances included Hailey Sainz, who hit 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBIs, and one run; Vanessa Berber with a double, two RBIs, and one run; Brynley Aiello contributing a double, three runs, and a stolen base; and Bailey Harris, who went 2-for-2 with a double, one RBI, and one run. Audrina Garcia, the winning pitcher, allowed seven hits and six runs while striking out three and walking three over five innings.
On their path to the championship, Ceres triumphed over Central Elite McLemore 12-3 in the semifinals and defeated Santa Nella Nightmares 21-1, Central Elite 14-3, and Havoc 11-5 on August 31. With this tournament win, Ceres improved their season record to 10-1-1. The Sizzle previously achieved a 5-1-1 record at the NSA Fastpitch Fiasco held on August 17-18 in Turlock.
Looking ahead, the Sizzle will compete in the AST Swing 4 The Fences tournament on September 21-22 at Big League Dreams in Manteca. Coach Harris expressed confidence in his team’s abilities, stating, “If the girls play to their potential, they can play with any team around.” The Sizzle is eager to pursue their third consecutive tournament title, with Harris noting, “It’s awesome. The girls are playing hard. You can tell they want to win. Hopefully, we keep the streak going.”