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Blaze place in top four at NorCals
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The Ceres Blaze 14-and-under travel baseball team had a respectable showing at the West Zone-NorCal Pony Regional tournament last month in Los Altos.

Ceres compiled a 2-2 record en route to a top-four finish at the eight-team, double-elimination event.

The Blaze won 15 of 20 games this year, including the West Zone-Central Valley Region Sectional crown.

"It was a pleasure coaching these boys over the season," Ceres head coach Randy Brekke said. "They should all be proud of what they've done, winning two tournaments and placing third in another. I hope they are all going to return next season."

The Blaze beat Santa Clara 3-1 in the opening round of NorCal Regionals on Friday, July 22 at Rosita Field.

Fernando Mota, Ceres' starting pitcher, allowed just one run through five innings.

Alan Marquez recorded the save in relief.

Josh Pack collected one hit and drove in two runs.

Frankie Calderon and Kendel Johnson both batted 1-for-2 with one run scored.

Marquez batted 1-for-3.

Ceres lost 11-7 to South San Francisco on Saturday, July 23.

The Blaze were hurt by a combination of 11 errors and passed balls, and 10 walks.

Calderon, Mikey Collins and Christian Schneider, Ceres' pitching staff, allowed nine unearned runs.

Pack led the way on offense with four RBIs and one hit.

Calderon and Schneider both plated two runs.

Johnson scored three times.

Ceres edged Mid County Red 5-4 in nine innings on Sunday, July 24.

Pack, Calderon, Marquez, Schneider and Johnson all pitched.

Moreno tallied three hits and one run.

Marquez finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Calderon (two hits and two runs), Schneider (two hits and one RBI) and Johnson (one hit and one RBI) also contributed.

Ceres had a 20-minute break before facing Watsonville in the quarterfinals.

The Blaze saw their season come to an end after suffering a 12-5 loss.

Ceres gave up eight runs on six hits, three walks and four errors in the fourth inning.

Calderon started at pitcher.

Johnson and Mota combined to allow just one run in relief.

The Blaze had multiple contributors on offense.

Cooper Gipp had two RBIs and one hit.

Moreno batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

Calderon chipped in with two runs and one hit.

Ceres lost despite pounding 12 hits.

"We had one bad inning and that cost us the game," Brekke said.