The Ceres Blaze Red 10-and-under travel youth baseball squad had a breakthrough performance while capturing the title at the NCTB USSSA State Championships earlier this month in Manteca.

Ceres compiled a perfect 4-0 record, July 12-13, at the Big League Dreams Sports Park.

The Blaze Red improved to 26-29 on the year.

Ceres placed first for the first time this year.

The Blaze Red have finished second, third and fifth twice, and fourth once during the course of the season.

"The boys have been steadily progressing," assistant coach James McGinnis said.

Noel Anaya was named tournament MVP.

"He performed at a high level and was focused all weekend long," McGinnis said.

Ceres edged the CenCal Grizzlies of Hanford, 1-0, in the finals on July 13.

"It was a pretty amazing game," McGinnis said. "Neither team made an error."

Pitchers Mitchell McGinnis and Curt Munson combined for the shutout.

Munson got out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning. He induced a pop out and lineout.

Anaya made a sliding catch in left field to secure the victory.

Curt surrendered no runs and five hits with one strikeout and one walk in four innings.

Mitchell allowed no runs and two hits with one strikeout and no walks in two innings.

Cameron Lopez, who accounted for the game's lone run when he scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the fourth inning, led the Blaze Red on offense with two singles.

The Blaze Red defeated the Pleasant Hill Red Devils 8-0 in the semifinals on July 13.

McGinnis and Munson starred at pitcher.

Mitchell totaled four strikeouts and no walks in three innings.

He gave up no runs and just two hits.

Curt gave up no hits and struck out two batters.

McGinnis batted 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

Daniel Andrade batted 2-for-2 with one double.

Ceres routed Pleasant Hill Blue 12-1on July 12.
Munson and Lopez both pitched.

Curt tallied five strikeouts over three innings. He yielded one run and three hits.

Cameron had one strikeout in two innings. He surrendered no runs and one hit.

McGinnis batted 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

Lopez batted 2-for-3.

The Blaze Red opened the tournament with a 12-3 win over the Central Valley Marshals on July 12.

McGinnis pitched, along with Eliot Kee.

Mitchell allowed two runs and one hit with five strikeouts and one walk.

Eliot gave up one run and one hit with one strikeout and one walk.

Ceres scored nine runs in the fourth inning. Anaya had a lead-off triple and walk-off double.

"The boys did an excellent job," coach McGinnis said. "They've really gelled into a cohesive unit."