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CHS striving for WAC perfection in baseball
Dawgs trying to end CCs six-year reign
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Ceres High School's varsity baseball team continued its pursuit of Western Athletic Conference perfection this past week.

The first-place Bulldogs completed a two-game sweep of Pacheco and improved to 10-0 in the league standings.

Ceres High currently has an overall record of 20-3-1.

"I've been coaching varsity baseball for 27 years," Bulldogs head coach John Bussard said. "Only once before have I been part of a team that's won 20 games in a regular season. We know we got a good thing going. The kids have done a lot right. I think we deserve the league title. If we play like we're capable of, I don't think there's a team out there that can beat us."

Ceres High pounded Pacheco, 13-6, on Thursday at Art McRae Field.

Bulldog senior Brandon Arevalos put on an offensive showcase.

Arevalos hit two homers in one game for the second week in a row.

His first home run cleared the scoreboard behind the left-field fence.

His second homer sailed over the right-field fence.

"It was impressive," Bussard said. "His results increased because of his weight-room work. The guy has always had talent."

Bulldog teammates Devon Ruger, Jimmy Bates, Brad Bussard and Alan Marquez chipped in as well.

Ruger batted 3-for-4 with four RBIs and one run.

Bates batted 3-for-3 with one double, one RBI and three runs.
Bussard batted 3-for-5 with one double, one RBI and three runs.

Marquez batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Bussard turned in a respectable performance on the mound.

Brad had seven strikeouts and five walks over five innings.

He allowed five runs, two of which were earned, and four hits.

Ceres High overcame eight errors and edged Pacheco 8-6 on April 23 in Los Banos.

Bulldog ace pitcher Haydon Turpin tallied eight strikeouts in five innings. He gave up four runs, two earned, and three hits with two walks.

Marquez batted 2-for-4 with one homer, two RBIs and two runs.

Arevalos batted 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBIs and one run.

Brent Bussard batted 3-for-4 with one triple and one run.

Ceres High will face Enochs in non-league play today in Modesto at 4 p.m.

The Bulldogs will try to end Central Catholic's six-year reign as WAC champions next week.

The Bulldogs and Raiders (18-4-1, 8-0) will face off on May 6 in Modesto and May 7 in Ceres.

Ceres High embraces the challenge.

"The past is the past," coach Bussard said. "Offensively, I'd give the edge to us. Defensively, we've struggled the last two weeks. Our pitching is a push. It's going to be a very good matchup. This is what we planned for. We've talked about this 1,000 times. We can accomplish a lot. We just have to play relaxed and not make mistakes."