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Bulldogs secure split
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Brock DeWitt and Ceres Highs varsity baseball team topped visiting Patterson 9-3 in WAC play on Thursday. - photo by DALE BUTLER/Courier photo

Intent on avoiding an 0-2 start to the Western Athletic Conference season, Ceres High's varsity baseball program bounced back with a 9-3 victory against visiting Patterson on Thursday at Art McRae Field.

"We needed that win," said Bulldogs head coach Clinton Goblirsch, whose team opened WAC play with a disappointing 7-1 loss at Los Banos on March 14. "We played a lot looser."

The Bulldogs improved to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference standings.

Patterson dropped to 5-5 and 1-1.

"We like the progress we've made throughout the first couple of weeks," Goblirsch said. "Pitching has been our strong point."

Ceres High provided plenty of run support for starting pitcher Adrian Magdaleno.

The Bulldogs pounded 15 hits.

Gabriel Jimenez batted 4-for-4 with one triple and three runs.

Blane Abeyta batted 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs.

Freshman Dalton Dursossette batted 2-for-3 with one double and two RBIs.

Ricky Lopez batted 3-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.

Zach Kommavong batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Sophomore Brock DeWitt batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Adrian Lujan singled twice.

"We had a good day swinging the bats," Goblirsch said. "We got a lot of returning guys. They've seen varsity pitching."

Magdaleno gave up three runs and seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.

He induced two popouts and a lineout while getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning.

"Adrian knows how to pitch," Goblirsch said. "He does a great job of hitting his spots. He's not afraid to challenge a hitter when he needs to."

Patterson never recovered after allowing three runs in the bottom of the first inning.

"We got the momentum on our side," Goblirsch said.

Ceres High batted just .217 from the plate as a team against unbeaten Los Banos (7-0, 2-0).

"We didn't play bad," Goblirsch said. "We had some opportunities early on. They got hits when they had runners in scoring position and we didn't."

Ismael Ontiveros drove in the Bulldogs' lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Jimenez chipped in on offense with one double and two singles.

Durossette singled twice.

Andrew Nowaya scored once.

Durossette, Ceres High's starting pitcher, gave up six runs (four earned) and five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in five innings.

Ontiveros allowed one run and two hits with one strikeout and one walk in two innings of relief.

The Bulldogs will face Livingston and Pacheco this week.
Ceres High will play at Pacheco on Thursday. The contest will get underway at 4 p.m.