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Dawgs drop to third in WAC
Ceres High varsity softball team suffers another one-run loss in league play
nbates.tiff
Nicole Bates accounted for one of Ceres Highs seven hits versus Los Banos. The Bulldogs stranded eight runners on base in a 2-1 loss to the visiting Tigers on March 28. - photo by Dale Butler

Ceres High School's varsity softball team suffered another hard-to-stomach loss.

The 2012 Western Athletic Conference champion Bulldogs were edged out by the Los Banos Tigers, 2-1, on March 28 in Ceres.

"I'm kind of shocked," Ceres High head coach Donnie Donaldson said. "I just don't know what's going on. We have such a powerful offense. We couldn't string anything together. That's unbelievable."

Ceres High dropped to 3-2 in the WAC.

Los Banos (4-1) took over sole possession of second place.

First-place Central Catholic (5-0) hasn't lost a game.

The undefeated Raiders rallied for a 2-1 win over the Bulldogs earlier this year.

"We don't control our own destiny anymore," Donaldson said. "We're going to need a little help to get back in it (WAC-title race)."

The Bulldogs collected seven hits off Los Banos pitcher Taylor Harris, but stranded eight runners on base.
Mikayla Whatley and freshman Mahlena O'Neal both batted 2-for-3 from the plate.

Freshman Mackenzie Veuve singled and knocked in one run.

Freshman Sabrina Baisdon singled and scored once.

Freshman Nicole Bates singled.

Ceres High evened the score at 3-all in the bottom of the third inning.

Baisdon singled, moved to second on O'Neal's hit and raced home on Veuve's single to left.

"I don't like to make excuses for them," Donaldson said. "But they're young. I know they hate to lose. They're used to winning. They'll respond in the coming weeks."
Ceres High freshman pitcher Kaytlin Donaldson gave up two runs, allowed four hits, struck out two and walked two in seven innings.

The Tigers scored their first run in the top of the first inning and added an insurance run in the fifth.

"They didn't do anything fancy," coach Donaldson said.

The Bulldogs lost despite playing error-free defense.

Camrynn Broumas, Ceres High's second baseman and an all-league pick a season ago, exited the game in the second inning with a knee injury. Her playing status is uncertain.

"We still should have won," coach Donaldson said.

CHS 9, Patterson 4
Veuve starred at pitcher and on offense while leading the visiting Bulldogs past the Tigers, 9-4, on March 27
Mackenzie tallied a career-high 10 strikeouts. She yielded four runs on nine hits and one walk over seven innings.

Veuve batted 2-for-4 from the plate with one double, one RBI and one run.

Jayme Langan scored twice and singled.

Dia Borden and sophomore Megan McCormick chipped in with one RBI and one run apiece.

Bates and Izabel Saldana both singled and plated one run.
Whatley singled and scored once.

Baisdon and Laury Story tallied one run each.

The Bulldogs scored five times in the top of the sixth inning.

Dawgs 5, Panthers 0
Kaytlin Donaldson turned in a career-best performance in host Ceres High's 5-0 shutout of Pacheco on March 22.
Donaldson pitched a no-hitter.

She retired 21 of 23 batters, including five by strikeout.

Kaytlin also helped her own cause by batting 1-for-3 with one double, two RBIs and one run.

Baisdon batted 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run.
McCormick batted 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run.