The Ceres Sizzle 12-and-under travel softball squad claimed the team title and brought home first-place trophies from the Newman Tournament this past month.

"We didn't do as well as I thought we could (the previous week) in Elk Grove," head coach Vince Carvajal said. "It prepared us for the Newman Tournament. We played better. We fixed a lot of our problems. We're really happy about that."

Second-seeded Ceres earned a satisfying 14-7 win over top-seeded Newman in the championship game on June 25.

The Sizzle avenged a 9-5 loss sustained in seeding play earlier in the tournament.

"We went into the game well-rested and focused," Carvajal said.

Ceres broke the contest open in the third inning.

Marie Knights' grand slam gave the Sizzle an 8-0 lead.

The ball ricocheted off the scoreboard.

"The umpire said he's never seen a girl her age hit it over the fence," Carvajal stated. "It was pretty amazing. The whole team was hitting."

Knights also pitched.

She allowed just one hit through the first three innings.

Marie retired two of Newman's final three batters by strikeout.

Newman cut the deficit to 10-6 in the fourth inning.

"It was a battle," Carvajal said.

Ceres posted an 11-4 victory against the Modesto Fusion in an elimination game on June 25.

The Sizzle compiled a 2-1 record in seeding play on June 24.

Ceres lost 9-5 to Newman.

"They beat us pretty good," Carvajal said. "They surprised us."

The Sizzle edged the Livingston Lobos (8-7) and routed the Sonora Gold Rush (9-2).

Ceres has competed in three tournaments this summer.

The Sizzle placed first in Newman and Riverbank, and second in Elk Grove.

Ceres has an overall record of 10-5.