The Ceres Blaze 10-year-old travel baseball team battled until the very end at the George Costa Tournament last week.
The second-seeded Blaze suffered a 9-2 loss to No. 1 Bel Passi Red in the title game on Tuesday, June 29.
Nine-year-old Isaiah Oliver prevented the shutout in the top of the sixth inning when he drove in Nick Jones and Tanner Shears with a two-out double. Jones and Shears reached base by walk and single, respectively.
"Everybody was pumped," head coach Kevin Oliver said. "Their crowd got quiet."
The Blaze trailed 3-0 heading into the fifth inning.
"They capitalized and made every play," Oliver said. "Our kids got a little nervous."
Ceres' two tournament wins came against the Merced All-Stars (10-4) on June 26 and Hilmar (13-0) on June 23. The Blaze fell 2-1 to Bel Passi Red on June 25.
"I'm completely happy," Oliver said. "These kids never gave up."
The Ceres All-Stars beat the Merced All-Stars twice (6-3, 9-8) and Hilmar once (8-2) on their way to a third-place finish at the Costa tournament.
Ceres got swept by Bel Passi Red (11-1, 11-4).
The Ceres Blaze nine-year-old travel baseball team finished third overall in the Silver Bracket.
The Blaze lost 7-6 to Bel Passi Royal in the semifinals on Sunday, June 27.
Ceres rallied from a 6-3 deficit.
Michael Aveytia's double scored Alex Escobar, Angel Mendez and Kase Pacheco in the top of the sixth inning.
Bel Passi Royal tallied the winning run with two outs in the bottom half of the inning.
"It was a tough way to lose," head coach Nino Mendez said.
Ceres posted a 2-2 record.
The Blaze bested the Turlock Giants (8-5) on June 27 and Bel Passi Navy (7-2) on June 26.
Ceres opened the tournament with a loss to Bel Passi Royal (10-4) on June 24.
"I'm pretty satisfied with what they did," Mendez said.
The second-seeded Blaze suffered a 9-2 loss to No. 1 Bel Passi Red in the title game on Tuesday, June 29.
Nine-year-old Isaiah Oliver prevented the shutout in the top of the sixth inning when he drove in Nick Jones and Tanner Shears with a two-out double. Jones and Shears reached base by walk and single, respectively.
"Everybody was pumped," head coach Kevin Oliver said. "Their crowd got quiet."
The Blaze trailed 3-0 heading into the fifth inning.
"They capitalized and made every play," Oliver said. "Our kids got a little nervous."
Ceres' two tournament wins came against the Merced All-Stars (10-4) on June 26 and Hilmar (13-0) on June 23. The Blaze fell 2-1 to Bel Passi Red on June 25.
"I'm completely happy," Oliver said. "These kids never gave up."
The Ceres All-Stars beat the Merced All-Stars twice (6-3, 9-8) and Hilmar once (8-2) on their way to a third-place finish at the Costa tournament.
Ceres got swept by Bel Passi Red (11-1, 11-4).
The Ceres Blaze nine-year-old travel baseball team finished third overall in the Silver Bracket.
The Blaze lost 7-6 to Bel Passi Royal in the semifinals on Sunday, June 27.
Ceres rallied from a 6-3 deficit.
Michael Aveytia's double scored Alex Escobar, Angel Mendez and Kase Pacheco in the top of the sixth inning.
Bel Passi Royal tallied the winning run with two outs in the bottom half of the inning.
"It was a tough way to lose," head coach Nino Mendez said.
Ceres posted a 2-2 record.
The Blaze bested the Turlock Giants (8-5) on June 27 and Bel Passi Navy (7-2) on June 26.
Ceres opened the tournament with a loss to Bel Passi Royal (10-4) on June 24.
"I'm pretty satisfied with what they did," Mendez said.
