The youth-laden Ceres Sizzle 16-and-under travel softball team fell one win shy of claiming the AST West Coast World Series title earlier this month in Roseville.
“I’m proud of them,” said head coach Nikole Ferrel. “We’re happy we made it to the championship game. It wasn’t a tournament we planned on going to. We added it late because we wanted to see better competition. And we got that.”
The Sizzle amassed a 5-3 record at the July 6-9 West Coast World Series.
Ceres defeated Fire & Ice (2-0, 5-2) twice, and the Mad River Mist (5-1), Bay Area Bombers (11-4) and Eugene Lightning (6-2) once.
The Sizzle lost to the Cen Cal Angels (8-3), NorCal Bombers (5-3) and NorCal Rage (7-4).
“The girls played really well,” Ferrel said. “They had a lot of energy. They had fun. Overall, there was consistency in the lineup. Our pitchers did a good job. Defensively, we were pretty solid.”
Second-seeded Ceres lost by five runs to the fourth-seeded Cen Cal Angels in the championship game of the Silver Bracket on July 9.
“We made a couple errors and were short a few hits,” Ferrel said. “Our bats fell flat. The loss is going to make us work harder.”
Ceres allowed four runs in the top of the first inning.
“We didn’t come back from that,” Ferrel said. “The girls were disappointed we lost. They really wanted to win that game because that team beat us the weekend before. We’ll see them again.”
The Sizzle have placed first once, second twice and third once this summer.
Ceres’ roster features 12 players, including Natalie Corella, Bella Delatorre, Amaia Ferrel, Lizzy Figueroa, Jackie Guillory, Selina Luiz, Chloe Moreno, Gabby Ortiz, Tatiana Ortiz, Kyleigh Robinson, Des Sorci and Emma Velasco.
“We have a young team,” coach Ferrel said. “Nine of our girls can play 14u. The only way for them to keep improving is to play better competition.”
The Sizzle will compete at the NSA Western Nationals, July 26-30, in the Modesto area.
Sizzle 8s take second
The Ceres Sizzle 8-and-under travel softball team took second at the Newman All-Star Tournament.
“It’s a little confidence booster,” head coach Audel Valencia said.
Ceres compiled a 4-1 record.
The Oakdale Cowgirls edged the Sizzle 19-17 for the title on July 2.
“It was a crazy game,” Valencia said.
Ceres routed Newman 15-1 in the semifinals on July 2.
Ceres defeated Hilmar 15-9 and Westside 15-7 on July 1.
Ceres opened the tournament with a 16-5 win over Newman on June 29.
The Sizzle totaled 78 runs in five games.
“Offensively, they’ve been doing well all season,” Valencia said. “They’re definitely not afraid to swing the bats.”
“It’s more challenging coaching (this age group) because you have so much to teach them,” he added. “That’s where the foundation starts.”
