Josh Pernetti returned home from New Zealand on March 2.

“It was a fun experience,” the Ceres High senior said. “I’m just glad to be back. I missed baseball.”

Pernetti suited up for the USA Softball Under-18 Men’s National Team, Feb. 22-March 1, at the WBSC World Cup.

“It was an honor being able to have USA across my chest and to represent Ceres,” he said. “I don’t know a lot of people that have done this. It seems special to me.”

The 11-team tournament was staged at Colquhoun Park in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Sixth-ranked USA placed 11th overall.

The National Team compiled a 2-6 record.

“It was my first time playing softball,” said Pernetti, who batted fifth in the lineup and logged playing time at first base. “The most challenging part was seeing a rise ball come at me. If I got an opportunity to play again, I’d do it.”

USA beat Singapore 4-2 on Feb. 28 and Denmark 7-3 on Feb. 25.

The National Team lost 11-7 to South Africa on Feb. 29, 8-6 to Canada on Feb. 27, 10-0 to Japan on Feb. 26, 10-3 to Guatemala on Feb. 24, 11-1 to New Zealand on Feb. 23 and 10-1 to Mexico on Feb. 22.

“We didn’t play our best but it was a good experience overall,” Pernetti said. “It was really fun. I got to meet a lot of new people.”

Pernetti and his USA Softball teammates didn’t do much sightseeing in New Zealand. 

“We were on a mission to try to win games,” he said. “We went to a beach near Palmerston the last day we were there.”