Ceres High’s varsity baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak with an 8-4 victory at Modesto Christian on March 11.
“It was a good confidence booster,” senior catcher/first baseman Josh Pernetti said. “We played with a lot of enthusiasm and energy.”
Pernetti starred on offense while suiting up for the Bulldogs this year for the first time.
He batted 2-for-3 with one homer, three RBIs and two runs.
Pernetti missed the first two games of the 2020 campaign while representing the USA Softball Under-18 Men’s National Team at the WBSC World Cup in New Zealand.
“I was excited to play,” he said. “It was my first game of the season.”
Ceres High (3-6) collected a total of eight hits versus Modesto Christian.
Nick Villalobos batted 2-for-2 with two RBIs and one run.
Isac Cordova batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Justin Prestridge batted 0-for-2 with one RBI and two runs.
Andrew Kommavong and Josh Prestridge both batted 1-for-3 with one run.
Gabe Flores scored one run.
Miguel Espinoza singled.
Ceres High’s Isaac Sosa improved his pitching record to 2-1. He allowed two earned runs and four hits with six strikeouts and four walks over five innings.
Roman Aguinaga picked up the save in relief.
He gave up no runs and no hits with one strikeout and no walks in two innings.
The Bulldogs outscored the Crusaders 6-0 through the first four-and-a-half innings of play.
Ceres High never trailed.
“It doesn’t take pressure off,” Pernetti said. “You still have to play hard. Once you let up, that’s when things can go south.”
The Bulldogs might have played their final game as school districts in Stanislaus County suspended all athletic events on March 16 until further notice due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
The CIF’s 10 Section commissioners and state office will meet via teleconference on April 3 to decide whether or not to cancel spring sports.
“We’ll be ready if we get a chance to play again,” Pernetti said.