Ceres Pups Cheer teams attended the Jamz Central Valley Youth Camp, staged Aug. 3-4 at Oakdale High School.

“Pups did amazing and earned lots of ribbons,” coach Melissa Ruger said. “Ribbons were awarded to girls who had the best motions, jumps, stunts, dance and overall cheerleading.”

Approximately 26 Ceres cheerleaders, including 14 competitive, seven intermediate and five littles, received instruction from Jamz staff during the two-day clinic.

Age range of campers was 4-14.

SOFTBALL

Nicole “Sis” Bates continued her hot streak in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball League play this past weekend in Illinois.

The 2016 Ceres High School grad/three-time NCAA Division-I All-American middle infielder with the University of Washington/U.S. National Team member extended her hitting streak to seven games.

She raised her batting average to .346.

“I never really look at the leaderboard,” Bates said while being interviewed by Softball America during the opening week of her fourth season playing in the Athletes Unlimited Pro League. “I’m not really too worried about that. I’m worried more about how can I help the person to my left and the person to my right.”

“I feel I play my best when I’m pouring into others,” she added.

Bates, a shortstop, earned Game MVP honors after leading Team Palacios to a 6-3 win over Team Kilfoyl on Saturday at Rosemont’s Parkway Banks Sports Complex.

She batted 2-for-4 from the plate with one double, one RBI and one run.

Bates drove in the game’s first run with a double to right center field in the first inning. Bates scored on a groundout by Sashel Palacios.

Bates climbed from 42nd to 23rd on the Athletes Unlimited Leaderboard for 2024 Championship Play.

She’s totaled 740 points, including 530 for wins, 190 for stats and 20 for MVP.

“This is my job and I get to play with my best friends every day,” she. “What a blessing.”

Bates was selected in the Athletes Unlimited Softball Draft in 2021. 

She signed a contract extension prior to the start of the 2024 season.

Bates was a four-year standout at Ceres High School.

She was voted 2016 Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Softball State Player of the Year.

Led by Bates, the Bulldogs collected 85 wins, claimed one Sac-Joaquin Section championship, captured three Western Athletic Conference crowns and appeared in the playoffs four times.