The Ceres Sizzle 14-and-under travel softball team had a breakout performance while competing in its third tournament of the summer this past month in Turlock.

Ceres finished first overall in the Gold Bracket of the Dog Days of Summer event, which was staged July 26-27 at the Pedretti Sports Complex.

“I don’t think we surprised anybody,” head coach Jeff Graham said. “We’ve been working hard. We’ve been getting better and better. The team’s been gelling really well together.”

The Sizzle compiled a perfect 5-0 record at the 10-team tournament.

“We played some really good teams,” Graham said. “Everything was clicking. Hitting-wise, the girls have been crushing the ball, especially the top of the lineup. They’ve been really consistent.”

Ceres totaled four home runs, including two by Shelby Alves and one by Sydney Graham and Marian Verdugo.

Savannah Vasquez excelled at pitcher.

She had a combined seven strikeouts in the finals and semifinals.

Vasquez filled in for Janessa McClure, who was sidelined with an elbow injury.

“Savannah did awesome,” Jeff Graham said. “She showed really good control. She got a lot of strikeouts just hitting the corners.”

The third-seeded Sizzle bested the top-seeded Salinas Enforcers 8-4 in the title game on July 27.

“We put up four runs in the first inning and they never came back,” coach Graham said. 

Selene Valencia batted 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs.

Verdugo batted 2-for-2 with one double and one RBI.

Journey Estrella batted 1-for-2 with one double, two runs and one stolen base.

Layla Lozano batted 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Sydney Graham batted 1-for-3 with one run.

Genevieve Armenta had three stolen bases.

Vasquez allowed three earned runs with four strikeouts and no walks in five innings.

Ceres pulled away for a 10-6 international-tiebreaker win against second-seeded Hollister in semifinals on July 27.

Tied at 5-all, the Sizzle scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to secure the victory.

Vasquez gave up two earned runs with three strikeouts in five innings.

Ceres had to settle for being the third seed for the Dog Days of Summer event despite winning all three of its pool play games.

The Sizzle beat the Stockton Lightning 13-5, CV Firecrackers 11-5 and Manteca Fame 3-1 on July 26.

Ceres improved its summer record to 9-6.

The Sizzle placed in two of its first three tournaments.

Ceres took second at the Zoom into June event.

“Everybody is really excited,” Jeff Graham said. “It’s nice when the hard work pays off. The girls have been really consistent.”

Alves, Verdugo, Vasquez, McClure, Valencia, Armenta, Estrella, Lozano, Sydney Graham, Payton Graham and Love Arballo make up the Sizzle’s 11-person roster.

“A lot of the girls are taking extra lessons,” coach Graham said. “They’re showing the commitment. They want to get better.”