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Reyes leads Ceres Legion past Downey
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Hector Reyes pitched four scoreless innings and got plenty of run support from his teammates on Wednesday in Modesto.

Reyes allowed four hits, including three singles, and fanned five batters in five innings and the Ceres High Legion baseball team collected 12 hits en route to a 9-3 victory over the Downey Knights.

"We're hitting the ball hard," said Ceres coach Tim Williams. "When you do that, you're going to score runs."

Reyes retired the final nine batters he faced, including four by strikeout. He had no walks in the game.

"He threw really well," Williams said. "He was hitting his spots."

Corey Nakia, Downey's starting pitcher, allowed six runs and 10 hits in five innings. The southpaw had five strikeouts and three walks.

Ceres improved to 5-3 overall.

"I'm definitely pleased," said Williams, who compiled a 1-17 record in league as head coach of the Ceres High varsity baseball team this past season. "We're winning."

Ceres scored four runs in the top of the third inning.

Conrad Valor walked and moved to second on Marcus Castrejon's bloop single to right field. Valor and Castrejon advanced to third and second, respectively, on Robert Kerr's sacrifice bunt. They scored on Ray Perea's double into the right-center field gap.

Luis Malagon followed with an RBI double over the center fielder's head and scored on Jake Loveland's double to left field.

The Bulldogs built a 6-1 lead in the fifth inning.

Danny Munoz reached first with a bunt and scored on Perea's double into the left-center field gap. Loveland drove home Perea with a bloop triple to right field.

Ceres added one run in the sixth and two in the seventh.

Brent Avila scored from third on Castrejon's grounder, which was fumbled by Downey's second baseman, in the sixth.

In the seventh inning, Munoz singled to left field and stole second base. Malagon followed with a walk, and Munoz scored from third on a throwing error to give the Bulldogs an 8-1 lead.

Malagon scored from third on Reyes' sacrifice fly to left field.

Downey scored one run in the first inning and two in the seventh.

In the first inning, Kris Lankford bunted and advanced to second on a throwing error to first base. He scored from third on a fielding error.

In the seventh inning, K.C. Carver and Ryan Irons scored from third and second, respectively, on Josh Kemplin's single to center field.

Downey relief pitchers yielded a combined three runs and two hits in two innings.

Carver gave up one run and one hit in the sixth inning. He struck out one and walked two.

Andrew Castro gave up two runs and one hit in the seventh inning. He walked one.

Eight of Ceres' players had at least one hit in the game.

Perea had two doubles and three RBIs. He also scored two runs.

Loveland had a double, triple and three RBIs.

Munoz had two singles and scored two runs.

Malagon had a double, scored a one run and had an RBI.

Castrejon had a single, run and RBI.

Reyes had a single and drove in one run.

Jonathon Montez had two singles.

Tyler Tresenrider had a double. - By DALE BUTLER / Reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier