Ceres High School's varsity baseball program closed out the first half of the Western Athletic Conference season with a 5-3 loss to Central Catholic on April 5.
The Bulldogs bounced back in a big way during spring break this past week.
Ceres High finished in first place at the Art McRae Tournament, an eight-team event it co-hosted with crosstown-rival Central Valley.
"It's all about consistency and maintaining composure," Bulldogs head coach John Bussard said. "I think we were able to do that this week."
Ceres High won all four of its games and improved to 13-7 on the year
The Bulldogs posted a team-batting average of .471 (41 of 87).
Nick Welsh batted 7-for-12 with one double, three RBIs and four runs.
Devon Ruger batted 7-for-9 with two RBIs and six runs.
Jimmy Bates batted 5-for-8 with one double, two RBIs and three runs.
Haydon Turpin batted 4-for-8 with three doubles, five RBIs and two runs.
Brandon Arevalos batted 4-for-11 with two RBIs and two runs.
"Our lineup was consistent from top to bottom," coach Bussard said.
Turpin, David Page, Brett Conway and Brad Bussard were all effective at pitcher.
Haydon and David posted 2-0 records with each picking up one win in relief.
Brett and Brad both started and turned in solid outings. Conway and Bussard logged a combined 111/3 innings.
"They threw great," coach Bussard said.
Ceres High defeated Hughson 6-3 for the title on Saturday.
Turpin pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs. He gave up two runs and five hits with nine strikeouts.
Ruger, Welsh and Arevalos accounted for nine of Ceres High's 12 hits.
Devon finished 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Nick finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Brandon finished 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Ceres High held on for an 8-7 victory against Livingston on Saturday.
Page earned the win in relief. David allowed one run and one hit in the seventh inning.
Conway started. Brett gave up four runs and seven hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in a six-inning no-decision.
The Bulldogs totaled 11 hits.
Jimbo Pernetti singled, knocked in three runs and scored twice.
Brent Bussard went 2-for-4 with one double, one RBI and two runs.
Ceres High shut out Waterford 10-0 in five innings on Monday, April 9.
Page tossed a one-hitter, striking out eight with just one walk.
Turpin led the way on offense with one single, two RBIs and one run.
Ceres High topped Orestimba 8-3 on Monday, April 9.
Brad Bussard allowed one run and three hits with five strikeouts and three walks in a five-plus-inning, no-decision start.
Turpin pitched the final 11/3 innings.
He surrendered two hits and fanned four.
Haydon also starred on offense.
He had three doubles, three RBIs and one run.
Ceres High, 3-2 in WAC play as of Monday, will travel to Pacheco today and host Central Valley on Friday. Both games will get underway at 4 p.m.
The Bulldogs are vying for their second-consecutive playoff berth. Ceres High trails first-place Central Catholic and Patterson in the league standings. The top three teams in the WAC advance to the postseason.
"We're right there," coach Bussard said. "But we can't afford any slip-ups."
The Bulldogs bounced back in a big way during spring break this past week.
Ceres High finished in first place at the Art McRae Tournament, an eight-team event it co-hosted with crosstown-rival Central Valley.
"It's all about consistency and maintaining composure," Bulldogs head coach John Bussard said. "I think we were able to do that this week."
Ceres High won all four of its games and improved to 13-7 on the year
The Bulldogs posted a team-batting average of .471 (41 of 87).
Nick Welsh batted 7-for-12 with one double, three RBIs and four runs.
Devon Ruger batted 7-for-9 with two RBIs and six runs.
Jimmy Bates batted 5-for-8 with one double, two RBIs and three runs.
Haydon Turpin batted 4-for-8 with three doubles, five RBIs and two runs.
Brandon Arevalos batted 4-for-11 with two RBIs and two runs.
"Our lineup was consistent from top to bottom," coach Bussard said.
Turpin, David Page, Brett Conway and Brad Bussard were all effective at pitcher.
Haydon and David posted 2-0 records with each picking up one win in relief.
Brett and Brad both started and turned in solid outings. Conway and Bussard logged a combined 111/3 innings.
"They threw great," coach Bussard said.
Ceres High defeated Hughson 6-3 for the title on Saturday.
Turpin pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs. He gave up two runs and five hits with nine strikeouts.
Ruger, Welsh and Arevalos accounted for nine of Ceres High's 12 hits.
Devon finished 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
Nick finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
Brandon finished 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Ceres High held on for an 8-7 victory against Livingston on Saturday.
Page earned the win in relief. David allowed one run and one hit in the seventh inning.
Conway started. Brett gave up four runs and seven hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in a six-inning no-decision.
The Bulldogs totaled 11 hits.
Jimbo Pernetti singled, knocked in three runs and scored twice.
Brent Bussard went 2-for-4 with one double, one RBI and two runs.
Ceres High shut out Waterford 10-0 in five innings on Monday, April 9.
Page tossed a one-hitter, striking out eight with just one walk.
Turpin led the way on offense with one single, two RBIs and one run.
Ceres High topped Orestimba 8-3 on Monday, April 9.
Brad Bussard allowed one run and three hits with five strikeouts and three walks in a five-plus-inning, no-decision start.
Turpin pitched the final 11/3 innings.
He surrendered two hits and fanned four.
Haydon also starred on offense.
He had three doubles, three RBIs and one run.
Ceres High, 3-2 in WAC play as of Monday, will travel to Pacheco today and host Central Valley on Friday. Both games will get underway at 4 p.m.
The Bulldogs are vying for their second-consecutive playoff berth. Ceres High trails first-place Central Catholic and Patterson in the league standings. The top three teams in the WAC advance to the postseason.
"We're right there," coach Bussard said. "But we can't afford any slip-ups."
