Ceres Youth Baseball had nine different teams participate in the 42nd Annual George Costa All-Star Tournament in Ceres, June 22-29.
Pony
The Ceres All-Stars compiled a 2-3 record in the 13-14-year-old Pony Division.
"It's our first tournament," head coach Bill Campbell said. "We'll get better."
Fourth-seeded Ceres lost 1-0 to the eventual-champion Bel Passi 13-year-old baseball squad in the semifinals on June 28.
Ceres eliminated fifth-seeded Bel Passi Blue 13/14s with a 7-4 victory on June 27.
The All-Stars dropped two of three games in pool play.
Ceres won its opener, 11-10, versus Bel Passi 13/14s on June 23.
The All-Stars lost 10-2 to the runner-up Atwater Bulldogs and 12-4 to Bel Passi 13s.
"We definitely improved," Campbell said.
11-12s
The Ceres All-Stars captured the 11-12-year-old crown.
The third-seeded All-Stars won all five of their games.
"It's a big accomplishment," head coach Nino Mendez said.
Ceres topped fourth-seeded Bel Passi Blue 4-2 in the finals on June 29.
The All-Stars upset the second-seeded Ceres Blaze 7-6 in the semifinals.
The All-Stars defeated Thunder Youth Baseball (6-5), Hilmar (12-4) and Newman (12-2) in pool play.
The Blaze placed third with a 3-1 record.
Ceres won all three of its pool-play games before losing in the single-elimination portion of the tournament.
The Blaze collected wins against Bel Passi Blue (8-4), Bel Passi White (11-1) and Newman (9-4).
The Blaze will try to exact revenge versus the All-Stars later this summer.
9-10s
The Ceres Blaze 10s posted a perfect 5-0 record en route to a first-place finish in the 10-and-under Gold Division.
Ceres edged out Bel Passi Blue 15-13 for the title on June 29.
The Blaze won despite blowing a 5-0 lead.
Down 13-10, Ceres scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning.
The Blaze routed the Merced Titans 10-2 in the semifinals.
Ceres was awarded the top seed thanks to its dominant performance in pool play.
The Blaze bested Merced (8-2), Atwater Youth Baseball (11-0) and Bel Passi 10s (8-0) .
Ceres had two teams compete in the Silver Division.
The "A" All-Stars (1-4) placed sixth, one spot ahead of the "B" All-Stars (0-4).
7-8s
The Ceres Red All-Stars claimed the 7-8-year-old Gold Division championship.
Ceres Red swept all five of its opponents, including Oakdale and Atwater All-Stars twice and Atwater Youth Baseball once.
Ceres Red pounded the Atwater All-Stars 12-3 in a five-inning, mercy-rule shortened title game on June 29.
Isaac Sosa, Andrew Brown, Victor Magana and Andres Lujan all collected two hits on offense.
Shortstop Cameron Lopez turned an unassisted double play in the fourth inning.
Ceres Black finished second overall with a 2-3 record in the Silver Division.
Ceres Black won twice by one run against Waterford (3-2) and Ceres Grey (5-4).
Ceres Grey (2-2) placed in the top four.
Ceres Grey beat Ceres Black 8-7 in pool play.
Ceres Grey appeared headed for another victory over Ceres Black during their semifinal matchup.
Ceres Black overcame a 4-0 deficit with a five-run outburst in the fifth inning.
"We played so well for the first four innings," Ceres Grey head coach Antone Lopez said. "Then all of a sudden the wheels fell off."
Pony
The Ceres All-Stars compiled a 2-3 record in the 13-14-year-old Pony Division.
"It's our first tournament," head coach Bill Campbell said. "We'll get better."
Fourth-seeded Ceres lost 1-0 to the eventual-champion Bel Passi 13-year-old baseball squad in the semifinals on June 28.
Ceres eliminated fifth-seeded Bel Passi Blue 13/14s with a 7-4 victory on June 27.
The All-Stars dropped two of three games in pool play.
Ceres won its opener, 11-10, versus Bel Passi 13/14s on June 23.
The All-Stars lost 10-2 to the runner-up Atwater Bulldogs and 12-4 to Bel Passi 13s.
"We definitely improved," Campbell said.
11-12s
The Ceres All-Stars captured the 11-12-year-old crown.
The third-seeded All-Stars won all five of their games.
"It's a big accomplishment," head coach Nino Mendez said.
Ceres topped fourth-seeded Bel Passi Blue 4-2 in the finals on June 29.
The All-Stars upset the second-seeded Ceres Blaze 7-6 in the semifinals.
The All-Stars defeated Thunder Youth Baseball (6-5), Hilmar (12-4) and Newman (12-2) in pool play.
The Blaze placed third with a 3-1 record.
Ceres won all three of its pool-play games before losing in the single-elimination portion of the tournament.
The Blaze collected wins against Bel Passi Blue (8-4), Bel Passi White (11-1) and Newman (9-4).
The Blaze will try to exact revenge versus the All-Stars later this summer.
9-10s
The Ceres Blaze 10s posted a perfect 5-0 record en route to a first-place finish in the 10-and-under Gold Division.
Ceres edged out Bel Passi Blue 15-13 for the title on June 29.
The Blaze won despite blowing a 5-0 lead.
Down 13-10, Ceres scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning.
The Blaze routed the Merced Titans 10-2 in the semifinals.
Ceres was awarded the top seed thanks to its dominant performance in pool play.
The Blaze bested Merced (8-2), Atwater Youth Baseball (11-0) and Bel Passi 10s (8-0) .
Ceres had two teams compete in the Silver Division.
The "A" All-Stars (1-4) placed sixth, one spot ahead of the "B" All-Stars (0-4).
7-8s
The Ceres Red All-Stars claimed the 7-8-year-old Gold Division championship.
Ceres Red swept all five of its opponents, including Oakdale and Atwater All-Stars twice and Atwater Youth Baseball once.
Ceres Red pounded the Atwater All-Stars 12-3 in a five-inning, mercy-rule shortened title game on June 29.
Isaac Sosa, Andrew Brown, Victor Magana and Andres Lujan all collected two hits on offense.
Shortstop Cameron Lopez turned an unassisted double play in the fourth inning.
Ceres Black finished second overall with a 2-3 record in the Silver Division.
Ceres Black won twice by one run against Waterford (3-2) and Ceres Grey (5-4).
Ceres Grey (2-2) placed in the top four.
Ceres Grey beat Ceres Black 8-7 in pool play.
Ceres Grey appeared headed for another victory over Ceres Black during their semifinal matchup.
Ceres Black overcame a 4-0 deficit with a five-run outburst in the fifth inning.
"We played so well for the first four innings," Ceres Grey head coach Antone Lopez said. "Then all of a sudden the wheels fell off."
