The Ceres Sizzle 12-and-under travel softball team has continued its successful fall season by securing first place for the second time. The team proudly brought home a plaque and championship rings from the NSA Labor Day Tournament, held from August 31 to September 1 at Rainbow Fields.
Ceres head coach Jon Harris praised the team, saying, “They played great, the way they were supposed to.” The Sizzle won all five of their tournament games, showcasing strong batting and defense. “We had timely hitting and good defense. Our pitchers kept us in games. We didn’t give up many runs all weekend,” Harris added.
The final match saw Ceres narrowly defeat Firecrackers Martinez-Black 8-7 in extra innings on September 1. This victory was a redemption for the team after a previous loss of 6-5. The championship game employed the international tiebreaker rule, starting each team with a runner on second base in the fifth inning. Down by a run, Ceres scored two runs to clinch the win, with Vanessa Berber delivering a crucial hit that drove in the tying and winning runs.
Ceres had an impressive team batting average of .368 throughout the tournament, registering seven hits and five walks. Notable performances included Hailey Sainz, who batted 1-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs, and Berber, who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Other contributors included Brynley Aiello, Bailey Harris, and Audrina Garcia, all playing pivotal roles in the team’s success.
Garcia was the winning pitcher, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out three batters and walking three in her five-inning performance. Ceres defeated Central Elite McLemore 12-3 in the semifinals earlier that day, and they also recorded wins against Santa Nella Nightmares, Central Elite, and Havoc on August 31.
With a season record of 10-1-1, including a 5-1-1 showing at the NSA Fastpitch Fiasco earlier in August, Ceres is gearing up for the upcoming AST Swing 4 The Fences tournament on September 21-22, at Big League Dreams in Manteca. Coach Harris expressed confidence in his team, stating, “If the girls play to their potential, they can play with any team around.” The Sizzle will aim for their third consecutive tournament title, with Harris noting, “The girls are playing hard. You can tell they want to win. Hopefully, we keep the streak going.”