Ceres High School's quest for a league title in varsity baseball ended this past week.
The Bulldogs were eliminated from contention after suffering a pair of gut-wrenching, one-run losses in Western Athletic Conference play.
"Right now, we're just not playing really well," head coach Bret Durossette said. "I'm tired of it. The kids are tired of it. Hopefully, our kids respond."
The Bulldogs (8-6) will close out the WAC season at home this Wednesday.
Ceres High and crosstown-rival Central Valley will play at 4 p.m.
The Hawks (5-9) upset the Bulldogs twice earlier this season.
Ceres High has already qualified for the playoffs.
"We're in third place no matter what happens," Durossette said. "I hope the kids show up. If we play like we have been playing, we'll be in trouble."
Ceres High lost 13-12 to visiting Livingston on Friday despite accumulating five homers and 11 hits.
"Our pitching wasn't where it needed to be," Durossette said.
Nick Welsh homered twice and knocked in three runs for Ceres High.
A.J. Fontana collected one homer and three RBIs.
Brent Ward batted 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and three runs.
Tyler Cummings finished 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and one run.
The Bulldogs overcame deficits twice before losing.
Ceres High squandered leads twice during its 10-9 loss at first-place Central Catholic on Wednesday.
"We just didn't get it done," said Durossette, whose team led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning and 9-6 through five innings. "The other team beat us."
Central Catholic totaled 13 hits on offense.
The Bulldogs posted a team-batting average of .379 (11-for-29).
Sophomore Jimbo Pernetti homered, tripled, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Fontana chipped in with a triple, two RBIs and two runs.
Welsh plated two runs and doubled.
Ward had two singles, one RBI and one run.
Ceres High fell short of its first goal in WAC play.
The Bulldogs met their second objective, which was to qualify for the postseason. Ceres High last participated in the playoffs in 2002.
"We didn't win a league championship," Durossette said. "We're going to vie for a section title, which is better than league. We have the talent to do it. The kids have worked hard all year. We just got to get some momentum."
The Bulldogs were eliminated from contention after suffering a pair of gut-wrenching, one-run losses in Western Athletic Conference play.
"Right now, we're just not playing really well," head coach Bret Durossette said. "I'm tired of it. The kids are tired of it. Hopefully, our kids respond."
The Bulldogs (8-6) will close out the WAC season at home this Wednesday.
Ceres High and crosstown-rival Central Valley will play at 4 p.m.
The Hawks (5-9) upset the Bulldogs twice earlier this season.
Ceres High has already qualified for the playoffs.
"We're in third place no matter what happens," Durossette said. "I hope the kids show up. If we play like we have been playing, we'll be in trouble."
Ceres High lost 13-12 to visiting Livingston on Friday despite accumulating five homers and 11 hits.
"Our pitching wasn't where it needed to be," Durossette said.
Nick Welsh homered twice and knocked in three runs for Ceres High.
A.J. Fontana collected one homer and three RBIs.
Brent Ward batted 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and three runs.
Tyler Cummings finished 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and one run.
The Bulldogs overcame deficits twice before losing.
Ceres High squandered leads twice during its 10-9 loss at first-place Central Catholic on Wednesday.
"We just didn't get it done," said Durossette, whose team led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning and 9-6 through five innings. "The other team beat us."
Central Catholic totaled 13 hits on offense.
The Bulldogs posted a team-batting average of .379 (11-for-29).
Sophomore Jimbo Pernetti homered, tripled, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Fontana chipped in with a triple, two RBIs and two runs.
Welsh plated two runs and doubled.
Ward had two singles, one RBI and one run.
Ceres High fell short of its first goal in WAC play.
The Bulldogs met their second objective, which was to qualify for the postseason. Ceres High last participated in the playoffs in 2002.
"We didn't win a league championship," Durossette said. "We're going to vie for a section title, which is better than league. We have the talent to do it. The kids have worked hard all year. We just got to get some momentum."
