Members of the Ceres Blaze 16-and-under travel baseball team gained valuable experience while attending the Central Valley Baseball Tournaments 18-and-under Fall College Showcase this past weekend in Merced.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted the Ceres Blaze (program) to do on a continuous basis—to go to showcases,” head coach Jorge Guerrero said. “I want to give our players exposure to college coaches.”

Coaches from four different colleges, including host Merced College, Stanislaus State, Coalinga College and Lake Erie College of Ohio, scouted talent at the two-day event.

“We were the only 16U team there,” Guerrero said. “We did well. We competed. The boys were locked in.”

A skills combine was held for individual players, including outfielders, infielders and catchers, on Saturday.

Pitchers were evaluated on velocity and command.

“The kids had a strong showing,” Guerrero said. “Their fundamentals are pretty good.”

Each team played one game the first day of the showcase and two on Sunday.

Game format consisted of three outs or up to six at-bats per inning.

“Everybody got to showcase their abilities in front of scouts,” Guerrero said. “The boys were very focused. A few of them want to play (baseball) in college. I don’t know if that was extra motivation.”

Marco Gaxiola, Giovanni Guerrero, Julian Gutierrez, Enrique Jaurique, Chris Jones, Victor Nuno, Liam Patron, DJ Payan, Antonio Pena, Preston Sanchez and Landon Skene represented the Blaze at the Fall Showcase.

Pena (pitcher/third baseman/outfielder) and Gaxiola (pitcher/third baseman) drew attention from scouts.

“They liked how they played,” Guerrero said. “They told them they were going to keep an eye on them.”

Ceres collected no wins, one loss and two ties at the Fall College Showcase.

The Blaze tied Delta Breeze of Brentwood 4-4 and lost 6-1 to Sandlot Baseball on Saturday.

Ceres and Play Hard Baseball (Turlock) tied 7-7 on Sunday.

“We’re going to another one (college showcase) at Merced College in September,” Guerrero said.