The Ceres Sizzle 10-and-under travel softball team turned in a dominant performance while claiming the title at the Ceres Blast-Off Tournament, July 18-19, at Costa Fields.

“They did a lot better than I expected,” head coach Jessica Lopez said. “I didn’t expect to run-rule almost every team.”

Ceres compiled a perfect 5-0 record during its final tournament of the summer.

The Sizzle outscored their opponents, 64-6.

Ariel Castillo was named the tourney’s Most Valuable Player.

Lexi Lopez won the Defensive Player award.

“The girls have been putting in extra work outside of practice,” coach Lopez said. “You can tell it’s made an impact on their game.”

The Sizzle won a pair of games in championship bracket play.

Ceres defeated Central Valley Liberty of Turlock 11-2 in the finals on July 19.

The Sizzle totaled 14 hits and seven stolen bases.

Lexi Lopez batted 2-for-2 from the plate with one double, three RBIs and one run.

Camille Jackson batted 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs.

Jayleen Peña batted 2-for-3 with one double, two RBIs and two runs.

Danika Bay batted 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run.

Remi Carraway batted 1-for-2 with two runs.

Blake Hughes batted 1-for-2 with one double and one RBI.

Lena Garcia and Riley Kahn both batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Camila Alvarez batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Castillo knocked in one run.

Nora McConnell singled.

Castillo was the winning pitcher.

She had seven strikeouts in in 42/3 innings.

She also drove in one run on offense.

“We hit the ball hard and were aggressive base running,” Jessica Lopez said.

Ceres also played mistake-free defense behind Castillo.

The Sizzle took control of the game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Carraway, Lopez, Bay, Castillo and Hughes all collected one RBI.

Ceres coasted to a 13-0 victory over the Hughson Lightning in the semifinals on July 19.

The Sizzle collected seven hits and five walks on offense.

“We put pressure on their defense,” coach Lopez said.

Lexi Lopez batted 1-for-1 with one homer, two RBIs and two runs.

Bay batted 1-for-1 with two RBIs and two runs.

Kahn batted 1-for-1 with one double, one RBI and two runs.

Hughes batted 1-for-1 with one double, one RBI and one run.

Jackson and Peña both batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run.

Alvarez batted 1-for-2 with one double and one run.

Carraway, Castillo and McConnell chipped in with one run apiece.

Bay was the winning pitcher.

She allowed no runs and one hit with eight strikeouts and no walks in 31/3 innings,

The Sizzle secured wins against the Salinas Enforcers (10-4), Hughson Lightning (15-0) and Turlock Liberty (15-0) in seeding play.

Castillo, Lopez, Jackson, Peña, Bay, Carraway, Hughes, Garcia, Kahn, Alvarez and McConnell all contributed during the course of the season.

Ceres struggled at times at the beginning of the year.

“There were growing pains, but a huge pay off in the end,” coach Lopez said. “You could see the confidence. You could see the growth.”

“This is our second year of 10u,” she added. “We’ve challenged ourselves to play harder teams outside of the area. We saw a lot better pitching.”

The core of the team will suit up for Jessica Lopez’s 12-and-under Sizzle squad in the near future.