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WAC championship remains up for grabs
CHS, CC vying for crown this week
dcanatsy2.tiff
Dylan Canatsy and Ceres High will battle Central Catholic for the Western Athletic Conference title this week. - photo by Dale Butler

Ceres High School's varsity baseball team battled until the final out was registered.

The Bulldogs' comeback bid fell short as they lost 3-2 to non-league opponent Enochs on Wednesday in Modesto.

"Emotions were a little down," Bulldogs head coach John Bussard said. "Their minds are elsewhere. I'm partly to blame for that. Our sights are set for next week. That's all we care about."

A day earlier, Ceres High players watched crosstown-rival Central Valley upset previously-unbeaten Central Catholic 6-2 in Western Athletic Conference play.

The first-place Bulldogs (20-4-1, 10-0) hold a one-game lead over the second-place Raiders (19-5-1, 9-1) heading into the final week of the WAC season.

Ceres High and Central Catholic will meet twice this week.

The Bulldogs want to end the Raiders' six-year run of capturing WAC titles.

"We were at the (Central Valley-Central Catholic) game," Ceres High standout Brandon Arevalos said. "We were there scouting. We had a feeling they'd be able to pull it off because they gave us a good game. It takes some of the pressure off. We feel like we have destiny in our hands."

Enochs snapped Ceres High's six-game winning streak.

The Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning and one in the fifth.

The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning.

Ceres High had runners on first and second base when Brent Bussard grounded into a double play to end the game.

"I'm not disappointed," coach Bussard said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win."

The Bulldogs struggled on offense, posting a team-batting average of .208.

Ceres High collected just five hits.

Arevalos singled.

Pernetti batted 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run.

Brad Bussard batted 2-for-3 with one run.

Alan Marquez batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.

"We were focused," Arevalos said. "But we were more excited about next week. Honestly, it would be the best feeling in the world if we get first."