The Ceres Blaze 14-year-old travel baseball team made a name for itself at the USSSA San Diego Global World Series.

Ceres finished in second place in the Gold Bracket of the July 28-Aug. 2 event, which was staged at Santee Sportsplex USA.

The Blaze also won three of four events during a skills competition the first day of the tournament, including Home-Run Derby (Antonio Peña), Accuracy Throw (Julian Gutierrez) and Around the Horn.

Peña hit a total of five homers, including one in a tiebreaker swing-off.

Gutierrez posted the best score while throwing five balls at a target board.

Five Blaze players teamed up to win Around the Horn. Ceres’ catcher, third baseman, second baseman, first baseman and shortstop all participated.

“Overall, it was a pretty special week,” head coach Jorge Guerrero Jr. said.

“No other team from Ceres has made it to the championship game of a USSSA tournament,” he added. “They gave us a banner. That was pretty special.”

The Blaze posted a 4-2 record at the USSSA San Diego World Series.

“The competition was legit,” Guerrero said. “The teams were from everywhere. The boys played really well all week. It was a very good performance.”

Ceres won one of two games in the Gold Bracket.

The Blaze lost 6-5 to El Cajon’s TBT SoCal in the championship game on Aug. 2.

“That’s the biggest game we’ve ever played in,” Guerrero said. “We competed. 

TBT SoCal avenged a 5-4 loss.

Ceres led 5-1 through the first two innings during the rematch.

“They had a good team,” Guerrero said. “Everybody could hit. It’s not like we gave up. They just beat us when it mattered the most.”

Ceres exacted revenge with a 4-1 victory over Hawaii Baseball Association in the semifinals on Aug. 1.

Ceres defeated DAWGZ Baseball 17-1 on July 31.

Ceres lost 13-4 to Hawaii Baseball Association on July 30.

Ceres edged TBT SoCal 5-4 on July 30.

The Blaze battled back from a four-run deficit.

Ceres shut out the Commerce Aces 10-0 in the opening round on July 29.

The Blaze had a success-filled 2025 season, which started in February and ended this past weekend.

Ceres won four titles.

The Blaze placed second three times and third once.

Peña, Julian Gutierrez, Jake Bounmany, Giovanni Ceja, Edgar Gonzalez, Giovanni Guerrero, Jesus Guzman, Chris Jones, Oli Loomis, Damian Mendoza, Victor Nuño, Preston Sanchez and Aaron Vasquez suited up for Ceres this year.

The Blaze were coached by Jorge Guerrero Jr., Jorge Guerrero III and Marty Sanchez.

Nine of Ceres’ 13 players have been teammates for the past three seasons.

“The core group has been together for three years,” Guerrero Jr. said. “They have good chemistry on the field. They know each other well. It shows when they’re playing.”

Ceres will move up an age group this fall.

The Blaze 16s will compete in 18-and-under tournaments.

“Hopefully, we stay together,” Guerrero Jr. said. “That’s what we’re talking about.”