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Sizzle 12s take fifth at World Series
Sizzle 12
The Ceres Sizzle 12-and-under travel softball team placed fifth in the A-bracket of the NSA Pacific Coast World Series last week at Rainbow Fields.

The Ceres Sizzle 12-and-under travel softball team brought home a fifth-place plaque from the NSA Pacific Coast World Series.

The A-division tourney was held this past week at Rainbow Fields.

“We would have had more success in the B bracket,” head coach Audel Valencia said. “But we wanted to challenge the girls and see if they could hang in the A bracket. They played great. They never gave up.”

Ceres amassed a 2-2-2 overall record.

“It would have been great to go deeper in the tournament,” Valencia said. “I thought we could have won the championship. But we fell short. We played some solid teams.”

The Sizzle went 2-2-0 in bracket play.

Ceres earned wins against Napa Valley (2-1) and Fresno Force (7-5) on Friday.

The Sizzle lost to the Manteca Wave (10-6) and SVG Dynamite (5-0) on Saturday.

Ceres tied the Cen-Cal Dirt Dogs (2-2) and OC Knights (9-9) in pool play.

When asked to assess his team’s overall performance at the tournament, Valencia said: “Great pitching. Timely hitting. Our defense stepped up.”

Ceres took first at two tournaments and finished third twice this summer.

“They’ve gotten better every week,” Valencia said. “They’ve come a long way since the beginning of the year.”

16s

The Ceres Sizzle 16-and-under travel softball team won one of four games while competing at the NSA Pacific Coast World Series this past week at Pedretti Park in Turlock.

“I’m very proud of our girls,” head coach Misty Roton said. “We are a very young 16-and-under team. Only four girls are 15 and we have no 16 year olds. Everyone else is 14 and 13. I’m looking forward to what our future holds for these talented young ladies.”

Ceres lost to the Fresno Sliders (8-0) and Oakdale Lady Rebels (8-4) in the elimination bracket.

The Sizzle compiled a 1-1 record in pool play.

Ceres posted a 10-6 victory over the Valley Heat.

The Sizzle lost 10-0 to the Central Valley Stingers.

14s

The Ceres Sizzle 14-and-under travel softball team compiled an 0-4-0 record while competing in the B-division of the NSA Pacific Coast World Series last week at the Arnaiz Softball Complex in Stockton.

Ceres suffered one-run losses while batting the Stockton Tigers (6-5) and SoCal Choppers in bracket play.

The Sizzle were beaten by USA Phenom (13-0) and Kerman Xtreme (14-0) in pool play.

8s

The Ceres Sizzle 8-and-under travel softball team collected two wins and three losses in the 10-and-under B-bracket at the NSA Pacific Coast World Series, staged July 25-28, in Manteca.

“We didn’t do too bad considering we played up a division,” head coach Sierra De Leon said. “We earned some respect.”

Ceres won one of its three games in the elimination bracket.

The Sizzle topped Bases Academy (11-7).

Ceres lost to the Tri-County Smash (14-1) and Stockton Tigers (5-3).

The Sizzle went 1-1 in pool play.

Ceres shut out Bases Academy (14-0).

The Sizzle lost to the Gamechangers (12-0).

“Overall, they did really well,” De Leon said. “They all stepped up. They had no fear playing against older girls.”

Ceres finished first twice and second once this year.