The Ceres High softball team lost 4-1 to Vintage in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs at the Sacramento Softball Complex on Saturday.
"We just ran into a really good team," said Ceres coach Mike Corsaut.
Vintage handed Elk Grove, the seventh-ranked team in California, its first loss of the season in the second round of the playoffs.
Ceres went 20-8 overall, finished second in the Central California Conference standings at 14-4 and secured a berth into the postseason for the 16th year in a row.
"I'm still proud of the girls," Corsaut said. "They worked hard to get into the playoffs again."
Vintage pitcher Ricci Robben kept Ceres' offense in check.
The University of Wisconsin bound senior allowed just one run on four hits and fanned nine batters.
"That's one of the best pitchers we've seen all year," Corsaut said. "She kept our good hitters off balance."
Ceres pitcher Andrea Mathis gave up four runs on six hits. She had one strikeout and one walk.
"Shelby Olivan came in in the third inning and shut them down," Corsaut said. "She allowed one hit the rest of the way."
Vintage, the Monticello Empire League's No. 2 seed, scored all four runs in the third inning.
Arielle Richardson walked, Brandy Jenks reached first on a bunt and Robben singled to load the bases. Sarah O'Neil, who is going to play next season at New Mexico State University, cleared the bases with a three-run triple to center and Samantha Arnold followed with an RBI single.
Ceres, the Central California Conference's No. 2 seed, scored its lone run with two out in the sixth inning.
Jordan Nash doubled, moved to second on Monique Castro's single and scored on Monica Hall's single to center field. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
"We just ran into a really good team," said Ceres coach Mike Corsaut.
Vintage handed Elk Grove, the seventh-ranked team in California, its first loss of the season in the second round of the playoffs.
Ceres went 20-8 overall, finished second in the Central California Conference standings at 14-4 and secured a berth into the postseason for the 16th year in a row.
"I'm still proud of the girls," Corsaut said. "They worked hard to get into the playoffs again."
Vintage pitcher Ricci Robben kept Ceres' offense in check.
The University of Wisconsin bound senior allowed just one run on four hits and fanned nine batters.
"That's one of the best pitchers we've seen all year," Corsaut said. "She kept our good hitters off balance."
Ceres pitcher Andrea Mathis gave up four runs on six hits. She had one strikeout and one walk.
"Shelby Olivan came in in the third inning and shut them down," Corsaut said. "She allowed one hit the rest of the way."
Vintage, the Monticello Empire League's No. 2 seed, scored all four runs in the third inning.
Arielle Richardson walked, Brandy Jenks reached first on a bunt and Robben singled to load the bases. Sarah O'Neil, who is going to play next season at New Mexico State University, cleared the bases with a three-run triple to center and Samantha Arnold followed with an RBI single.
Ceres, the Central California Conference's No. 2 seed, scored its lone run with two out in the sixth inning.
Jordan Nash doubled, moved to second on Monique Castro's single and scored on Monica Hall's single to center field. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier