Ceres High varsity softball coach Donnie Donaldson reviewed Manteca's results and stats on Maxpreps.com leading up to Friday's Valley Oak League contest.
The Bulldogs won rather easily, 10-0 via the mercy rule.
"On paper, it looked like it would be a pretty good match-up," said Donaldson, whose team moved to 2-0 in conference play. "We just hit the ball very well and played good defense. We didn't have a single strikeout all game. That was huge."
Eight different players contributed on offense, including Jessica Ellsworth (double, single, four RBIs, two runs), Hillary Haley (three singles, one RBI), Kaycee Creek (single, three runs), Alison Ghimenti (single, RBI, run), Cierra Hammons (single, RBI, run), Jamie Beck (single, RBI), Jode Johnson (single, two runs) Erica Reyes (run) and Ryan Norton (single).
Ceres High caught fire after its first six batters failed to reach base.
The Bulldogs collected 11 hits over the final four innings.
Ceres scored three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and three in the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Reyes walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Ghimenti's single. Hammons drove in Ghimenti. Creek, who reached base after getting hit by a pitch, advanced to third when Alison scored and came home on a passed ball to win it.
"We made good contact and the ball seemed to find gaps," Donaldson said.
Manteca (1-1) managed to collect just two hits off Bulldog pitcher Kaycee Creek. The right-handed sophomore tallied six strikeouts and just one walk. Creek played tennis in the fall and basketball during the winter.
"Kaycee did a great job hitting her spots today," Donaldson said. "She's rounding into softball form."
Ceres High will play at Central Valley (0-2) today. The crosstown contest will get underway at 4 p.m. The Hawks have never beaten the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs won rather easily, 10-0 via the mercy rule.
"On paper, it looked like it would be a pretty good match-up," said Donaldson, whose team moved to 2-0 in conference play. "We just hit the ball very well and played good defense. We didn't have a single strikeout all game. That was huge."
Eight different players contributed on offense, including Jessica Ellsworth (double, single, four RBIs, two runs), Hillary Haley (three singles, one RBI), Kaycee Creek (single, three runs), Alison Ghimenti (single, RBI, run), Cierra Hammons (single, RBI, run), Jamie Beck (single, RBI), Jode Johnson (single, two runs) Erica Reyes (run) and Ryan Norton (single).
Ceres High caught fire after its first six batters failed to reach base.
The Bulldogs collected 11 hits over the final four innings.
Ceres scored three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and three in the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Reyes walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Ghimenti's single. Hammons drove in Ghimenti. Creek, who reached base after getting hit by a pitch, advanced to third when Alison scored and came home on a passed ball to win it.
"We made good contact and the ball seemed to find gaps," Donaldson said.
Manteca (1-1) managed to collect just two hits off Bulldog pitcher Kaycee Creek. The right-handed sophomore tallied six strikeouts and just one walk. Creek played tennis in the fall and basketball during the winter.
"Kaycee did a great job hitting her spots today," Donaldson said. "She's rounding into softball form."
Ceres High will play at Central Valley (0-2) today. The crosstown contest will get underway at 4 p.m. The Hawks have never beaten the Bulldogs.
