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Patriots edge Ceres baseball team
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It's been a little more than a month since the Ceres High baseball team won a game.

Beyer dealt Ceres its 13th consecutive loss Friday afternoon in Modesto. The Patriots posted a 4-0 victory over the slumping Bulldogs.

"We're getting better," said Ceres coach Tim Williams. "We lost 16-3 (to Beyer) on Wednesday. Today it was 4-0."

Ceres fell to 1-11 in the league standings. Beyer remained in a first-place tie with Johansen atop the Central California Conference at 10-2.

"I'm disappointed but happy with most of the boys efforts," said Ceres coach Tim Williams.

"We have four more practices and six more games. We're playing for pride."

Beyer's Juan Moreno outdueled Ceres' Derrick Goblirsch.

"Pitching has been our strength," Williams said. "They haven't hurt us."

Moreno struck out nine batters and allowed just four hits in six scoreless innings. His defense committed no errors.

Goblirsch fanned three and gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on 13 hits and three walks in 42/3 innings. His defense committed two errors and failed to communicate on a play in the outfield in the first inning.

"That's the difference between them and us," Williams said. "They don't make (costly) mistakes.

"That's why they're fighting for a league championship."

Steffen Haro had two strikeouts in one inning of relief for the Patriots.

Chad Leazer had one strikeout in 11/3 innings of relief for the Bulldogs.

Beyer built a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Nick Chavez scored from second on David Arno's bloop single to center field. The ball landed between Ceres shortstop Hector Reyes and center fielder Brian Borges. Arno scored from second on an error by Reyes. Ryan Rivas' grounder rolled under Reyes glove and into the outfield.

The Patriots had an opportunity to extend their lead in the third inning but Borges' double play kept that from happening. He caught Aaron McKim's fly ball and threw out Arno at the plate.

Beyer scored its final two runs with two down in the fifth inning.

McKim singled to center field and moved to second on Jared Morini's walk and advanced to third on Jeff Hughes' single to left field. McKim scored on Jaime Ayala's single to center field. Courtesy-runner Johnny Dickson scored on Chavez's single to left field.

Ceres didn't pose a threat on offense thanks in part to Beyer's flawless effort on defense.

The Bulldogs had just two runners reach second base in the game.

Nick Eudy was thrown out while attempting to steal second by Beyer catcher Kyle Loretelli in the first inning. Borges hit into a double play in the third inning. Ceres left five runners on base in the final three innings, including one in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the seventh. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier