The Ceres High varsity softball team's season ended Monday with a 2-1 loss to West of Tracy in the elimination game of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs at the Sacramento Softball Complex.
A leadoff homer by sophomore Brittany Astle in the top of the ninth inning proved to be the difference.
"Somebody had to lose," said Ceres coach Mike Corsaut.
Jennifer Arnold pitched for Ceres, the Modesto Metro Conference's No. 1 seed. The junior gave up four hits, walked five and struck out eight.
Kellee Wilson pitched for West, the San-Joaquin Athletic Association's No. 2 seed. The junior had 14 strikeouts and no walks.
Wilson limited Ceres to six singles. Arnold and Crystal Goblirsch each had two. Meghan Franksen and Heidi Eisenbeis both had one.
The Bulldogs (22-6-1) accomplished a lot this year. They placed first in the MMC with a 13-2 record and secured a berth in the playoffs for the 20th straight year.
"The girls did well this year," Corsaut said. "They carried the legacy of Ceres High School."
Ceres failed to capitalize against West.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Goblirsch singled, stole second with two out and was left stranded.
In the bottom of the ninth, Eisenbeis led off with a single, stole second and was left stranded.
"We had chances to score but couldn't come up with the big hit," Corsaut said. "We could have won the game in the eighth and tied it in the ninth."
Both teams scored in the first inning.
Franksen singled, stole second and scored on Arnold's two-out single to even the score at 1-all. Wilson's RBI gave West a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Folsom edges Ceres
On Saturday afternoon, Chelsea Engle helped Folsom snap Ceres' 12-game winning streak in the second round of the playoffs.
The senior pitcher struck out 22 of the 27 batters she faced. She allowed just one hit, a single to Heather Russell.
"That's the best pitcher we've faced all year," Corsaut said. "We lost 2-1 to her in the playoffs two years ago."
Folsom, the Delta League's No. 3 seed, scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning.
Dawgs top Cougars
Ceres won its playoff opener Saturday morning. Franksen had a walkoff homer to left-center in the bottom of the eighth inning. Arnold allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out three over eight innings. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier
A leadoff homer by sophomore Brittany Astle in the top of the ninth inning proved to be the difference.
"Somebody had to lose," said Ceres coach Mike Corsaut.
Jennifer Arnold pitched for Ceres, the Modesto Metro Conference's No. 1 seed. The junior gave up four hits, walked five and struck out eight.
Kellee Wilson pitched for West, the San-Joaquin Athletic Association's No. 2 seed. The junior had 14 strikeouts and no walks.
Wilson limited Ceres to six singles. Arnold and Crystal Goblirsch each had two. Meghan Franksen and Heidi Eisenbeis both had one.
The Bulldogs (22-6-1) accomplished a lot this year. They placed first in the MMC with a 13-2 record and secured a berth in the playoffs for the 20th straight year.
"The girls did well this year," Corsaut said. "They carried the legacy of Ceres High School."
Ceres failed to capitalize against West.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Goblirsch singled, stole second with two out and was left stranded.
In the bottom of the ninth, Eisenbeis led off with a single, stole second and was left stranded.
"We had chances to score but couldn't come up with the big hit," Corsaut said. "We could have won the game in the eighth and tied it in the ninth."
Both teams scored in the first inning.
Franksen singled, stole second and scored on Arnold's two-out single to even the score at 1-all. Wilson's RBI gave West a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Folsom edges Ceres
On Saturday afternoon, Chelsea Engle helped Folsom snap Ceres' 12-game winning streak in the second round of the playoffs.
The senior pitcher struck out 22 of the 27 batters she faced. She allowed just one hit, a single to Heather Russell.
"That's the best pitcher we've faced all year," Corsaut said. "We lost 2-1 to her in the playoffs two years ago."
Folsom, the Delta League's No. 3 seed, scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning.
Dawgs top Cougars
Ceres won its playoff opener Saturday morning. Franksen had a walkoff homer to left-center in the bottom of the eighth inning. Arnold allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out three over eight innings. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier
