When the Valley Oak League game was over, Ceres High's varsity softball squad found itself on the wrong end of a 3-2 outcome.
"They all feel bad about it because they're trying really hard," Bulldogs head coach Donnie Donaldson said.
Host Manteca pushed what proved to be the game-winning run across the plate with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marissa Navarro worked the count to 3-2 before drawing a bases-loaded walk.
"I thought it was a strike," Donaldson said. "It's frustrating but we're making the mistakes to lose the games ourselves."
The Bulldogs (5-6 overall, 1-1 VOL) lost by one run for the third time this year.
The Buffaloes (7-1, 2-0) evened the score in the bottom of the third. Trina Solorio roped an RBI triple down the right-field line.
Ceres High took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the inning when Vaneza Hoover collected a bases-clearing single.
The Bulldogs stranded 12 runners on base during the course of the game.
"We didn't do a very good job of moving runners over," Donaldson said. "Their pitcher did a great job. We popped out a lot. We also made some mental errors."
Manteca ace pitcher Gabby Gonzalez limited the Bulldogs to just two hits over seven innings. She struck out five and walked six.
Hoover, Ceres High's ace pitcher, allowed five hits and one earned run with six strikeouts and four walks.
"She threw very well," Donaldson said.
Dawgs win VOL opener
The Bulldogs clubbed 14 hits on its way to an 11-7 victory over Weston Ranch in the VOL season opener for both teams on Tuesday, March 18.
The Cougars made the contest interesting by cutting a 7-1 deficit to one with five unanswered runs.
The Bulldogs gained some breathing room with a four-run sixth, highlighted by Hoover's historical two-run home run to left field. Vaneza became the first Ceres High player to hit a homer over the fence at the second-year ballpark.
Chelsae Lomeli, Jode Johnson, Shaye Farriester, Ryan Norton, Hillary Haley, Mika Johnson, Cassie Rayford and Tiffany Ornells contributed as well.
Lomeli went 2-for-3 with a homer, double, three runs and three RBIs. Jode collected three triples and scored three runs. Farriester tripled and scored twice. Norton singled twice, score once and drove in one run. Haley had two singles and two RBIs. Mika tallied a run. Rayford and Ornells both singled.
Hoover pitched a complete game. She allowed seven runs, including three earned, on six hits and five walks. Vaneza had 10 strikeouts.
"They all feel bad about it because they're trying really hard," Bulldogs head coach Donnie Donaldson said.
Host Manteca pushed what proved to be the game-winning run across the plate with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marissa Navarro worked the count to 3-2 before drawing a bases-loaded walk.
"I thought it was a strike," Donaldson said. "It's frustrating but we're making the mistakes to lose the games ourselves."
The Bulldogs (5-6 overall, 1-1 VOL) lost by one run for the third time this year.
The Buffaloes (7-1, 2-0) evened the score in the bottom of the third. Trina Solorio roped an RBI triple down the right-field line.
Ceres High took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the inning when Vaneza Hoover collected a bases-clearing single.
The Bulldogs stranded 12 runners on base during the course of the game.
"We didn't do a very good job of moving runners over," Donaldson said. "Their pitcher did a great job. We popped out a lot. We also made some mental errors."
Manteca ace pitcher Gabby Gonzalez limited the Bulldogs to just two hits over seven innings. She struck out five and walked six.
Hoover, Ceres High's ace pitcher, allowed five hits and one earned run with six strikeouts and four walks.
"She threw very well," Donaldson said.
Dawgs win VOL opener
The Bulldogs clubbed 14 hits on its way to an 11-7 victory over Weston Ranch in the VOL season opener for both teams on Tuesday, March 18.
The Cougars made the contest interesting by cutting a 7-1 deficit to one with five unanswered runs.
The Bulldogs gained some breathing room with a four-run sixth, highlighted by Hoover's historical two-run home run to left field. Vaneza became the first Ceres High player to hit a homer over the fence at the second-year ballpark.
Chelsae Lomeli, Jode Johnson, Shaye Farriester, Ryan Norton, Hillary Haley, Mika Johnson, Cassie Rayford and Tiffany Ornells contributed as well.
Lomeli went 2-for-3 with a homer, double, three runs and three RBIs. Jode collected three triples and scored three runs. Farriester tripled and scored twice. Norton singled twice, score once and drove in one run. Haley had two singles and two RBIs. Mika tallied a run. Rayford and Ornells both singled.
Hoover pitched a complete game. She allowed seven runs, including three earned, on six hits and five walks. Vaneza had 10 strikeouts.
