Three teams from the Western Athletic Conference qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV softball postseason tournament.
Top-seeded Central Catholic and No. 3 Los Banos lost 2-0 and 6-3 to Kimball and Sierra, respectively, in the opening round at Arnaiz Complex in Stockton on May 15.
Ceres High's youth-laden varsity softball squad fell two wins shy of advancing to the championship game.
"We were the lone WAC team standing in the playoffs," Bulldogs head coach Donnie Donaldson said. "We turned some heads. I see us doing great things in the future."
Ceres High, which started six freshmen and one sophomore this season, placed fourth in the section for the second year in a row.
The Bulldogs compiled a 1-2 record at the nine-team tournament.
"I'm ecstatic," Donaldson said. "We had a phenomenal season. They competed well."
The Bulldogs lost 6-5 to Sierra Valley Conference runner-up Cosumnes Oaks in a playoff elimination game on May 17.
Ceres High squandered a five-run lead thanks in large part to four errors.
The Wolfpack scored three runs in the both the fifth and seventh innings to secure the victory.
"We should have won," Donaldson said. "They just hit the ball where we weren't."
Bulldog starting pitcher MacKenzie Veuve allowed two hits and fanned two batters in five innings, four of which were scoreless.
"She did a great job," Donaldson said.
Fellow freshman Kaytlin Donaldson gave up three hits and struck out one in two innings of relief.
Donaldson batted 2-for-3 from the plate with one double and one run.
Veuve singled.
Nicole Bates doubled and plated two runs.
Dia Borden and Jessica Arreola collected one single and one RBI apiece.
Laura Story singled.
The Bulldogs lost 7-2 to eventual section champion Sierra of the Valley Oak League in the second round on May 17.
Allie Walljasper, Timberwolf star pitcher and a LSU recruit, tallied 11 strikeouts.
Ceres High defeated SVC champion Union Mine 9-6 in the first round of May 15.
Ceres High finished 19-12 overall and second in the Western Athletic Conference standings (8-4).
The Bulldogs competed against 10 playoff teams during the regular season, including 2013 Sac-Joaquin Section Division-V champion Hughson. Ceres High also battled Sierra, Central Catholic, Los Banos, Enochs, Gregori, Tokay, West, Calaveras and Merced.
"Everyone knows how young we are and what we have going for us," coach Donaldson said. "Our team is only going to get better with more experience. They're a fun group to watch play."
