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Sizzle win titles at NSA event
Sizzle 14 ceres
The Ceres Sizzle 14-and-under travel softball team placed first in the Gold Bracket of the Turlock Father’s Day Classic.

The Ceres Sizzle travel softball program had two teams claim titles at the NSA California Turlock Father’s Day Classic, staged June 18-19, at Pedretti Park.

The Sizzle 14s upset two higher-seeded teams while finishing in first place in the Gold Championship Bracket.

Fourth-seeded Ceres compiled a perfect 3-0 record.

“We did have high expectations,” head coach Nikole Ferrel said. “We got our state tournament paid for because we took first in the tournament.”

Led by standout pitcher Des Sorci, the Sizzle defeated top-seeded Clovis Rockets-Ramirez 4-1 in the championship game on June 19.

“She was throwing hard and hitting her spots,” Ferrel stated.

Ceres avenged a 2-0 loss.

“That’s the best team we’ve played this season,” Ferrel said. “But it’s not the best we’ve played.”

“We minimized our strikeouts, put the ball in play and our defense was very solid,” she added.

Ceres bested second-seeded Bases Academy of Los Banos 16-0 in the semifinals on June 19.

The Sizzle posted a 5-3 win over the fifth-seeded Valley Ducks in the quarterfinals on June 19.

Ceres won two of three games in pool play.

The Sizzle dropped their tournament opener, 2-0, to Clovis Rockets-Ramirez on June 18.

Ceres bounced back by beating the Hughson Huskies 14-0 and HAVOC 11-1 later that day.

The Sizzle have placed in five of six tournaments this summer, including first four times and second once.

Sorci, Bella Bravo, Makaela Brown, Natalie Corella, Alicia Espinoza, Amaia Ferrel, Jacki Guillory, Joli Guillory, Selina Luis, Gaby Ortiz, Tatiana Ortiz, Kyleigh Robinson and Emma Velasco have all contributed to Ceres’ success.

“All of their hard work is paying off,” coach Ferrel said. “Not only are they teammates, they’re friends.”

The Sierra De Leon-coached Sizzle 12s won all five of their games.

Second-seeded Ceres edged fifth-seeded Valley K.I.D.S. 3-1 in the finals on June 19.

The Sizzle secured a 6-5 victory versus third-seeded Bases Academy-Fonseca in the semifinals on June 19.

Ceres finished 3-0 in pool play.

The Sizzle collected wins against Valley K.I.D.S. (8-1), Athleticas M/M (5-0) and Bases Academy-Fonseca (4-3) on June 18.

The Audel Valencia-led Ceres Sizzle advanced to the semifinals of the 16/18 U bracket.

The second-seeded Nor Cal Assassins eliminated the third-seeded Sizzle from the tournament with a 6-0 victory on June 19.

Ceres shut out the sixth-seeded California Firecrackers 12-0 in the quarterfinals on June 19.

The Sizzle went 2-1 in pool play.

Ceres defeated the California Firecrackers 8-6, lost 6-3 to the Nor Cal Assassins and topped the Westside Bullets 6-3 on June 19.