Ceres High’s baseball team just missed securing a playoff berth during the final week of the regular season.

The Bulldogs won one of games versus the Mountain House Mustangs in Western Athletic Conference play.

“If we would have swept them, we would have got in,” said head coach Raul Godinez.

Ceres High upset Mountain House 8-7 in extra innings on Senior Day at Art McRae Field on May 1.

“It was a good way to end the season. I’m happy for my guys.”

The Bulldogs compiled a 15-9 overall record and tied for third place in the WAC standings (9-5). Beyer (14-11, 9-5) earned the conference’s final playoff spot thanks to its 2-0 head-to-head record versus Ceres High.

“They got it because they swept us. I was hoping for playoffs. That was our goal. We lost some close games.”

The Mustangs improved to 17-10 and finished second in league (11-3).

Upperclassmen Kyan Bowen, Brayden Clark, David Diaz  De Leon, Diego Mariscal, Ernesto Miranda and Donovan Osuna suited up for the Bulldogs for the final time.

“It was great to see the seniors win their last home game,” Godinez said. “I’m going to miss those guys. They did exactly what I expected them to do. They set an example for the younger guys.”

Bowen’s bases-loaded walk-off single to the right-center field gap in the bottom of the ninth inning propelled Ceres High past Mountain House.

Aiden Maines accounted for the winning run as he scored from third base.

“Kyan’s bat has been hot,” Godinez said. 

Bowen batted 3-for-5 from the plate during the game with three RBIs and one run.

Diaz De Leon batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

Clark collected one RBI.

Miranda singled.

Maines batted 1-for-3 with three runs.

Vincent Castrejon batted 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

Freshman Izequiel Verduzco batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Daniel Davis scored once.

Clark earned a no-decision while allowing one earned run and three hits with seven strikeouts and five walks while making his final start at pitcher.

He exited the game with two outs in the sixth inning.

“He did his job."

Verduzco (3-0) had two strikeouts and no walks en route to improving his pitching record to 3-0 while tossing 12/3 innings of relief.

He gave up no runs and three hits.

“I’ve put him in some tough situations. He’s performed every time.”

Miranda also logged playing time on the mound.

He yielded two earned runs and five hits with one strikeout and no walks in 12/3 innings.

Host Mountain House rallied for an 8-5 win over Ceres High on April 29.

The Bulldogs led 5-4 through five-and-a-half innings of play.

Ceres High never recovered after Mountain House scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“It was a good game. We just had a shaky inning. It drained the energy from us. We got the short end of the stick again.”

Bowen batted 2-for-3 with one triple, one RBI and two runs.

Miranda batted 0-for-3 with one RBI and one run.

Castrejon batted 1-for-1 with one triple and one run.

Mariscal batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Verduzo batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Maines batted 1-for-4 with one RBI.

 Castrejon (2-3) started at pitcher.

He surrendered five earned runs and nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks in six innings.

“He did great,” commented Godinez. “He was hitting his spots. We didn’t help him on defense.”

Ceres High will lose six players to graduation.

Maines, Castrejon, Verduzo, Davis and a host of other Bulldogs could return to the team next spring.

Ceres High will try to secure its second playoff berth in three seasons under Godinez’s guidance.