Ceres Sizzle Triumphs at NSA Labor Day Tournament

The Ceres Sizzle, a 12-and-under travel softball team, has continued its impressive performance this fall by claiming first place for the second time. Their latest victory came at the NSA Labor Day Tournament held from August 31 to September 1 at Rainbow Fields. The Sizzle not only brought home a plaque but also championship rings in recognition of their triumph.

“They played great, the way they were supposed to,” remarked Ceres head coach Jon Harris, highlighting the commendable performance of his team. The team won all five games they played, demonstrating timely hitting and solid defense. “Our pitchers kept us in games. We didn’t give up many runs all weekend,” Harris noted.

The thrilling final saw Ceres edge past the Firecrackers Martinez-Black with an 8-7 victory in extra innings on September 1. The match was sealed by the international tiebreaker rules, where each team began the fifth inning with a runner on second base. Ceres, trailing 7-6, scored two crucial runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to clinch the championship. Vanessa Berber played a key role, driving in Layla Scott and Brynley Aiello with a single over the second baseman’s head.

“The ending was pretty incredible,” Harris reflected on the climactic moments of the game. “Vanessa had a good at-bat.” Ceres finished the tournament with a team batting average of .368, amassing seven hits and five walks in the process.

Hailey Sainz contributed significantly, batting 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBIs, and one run. Other notable performances came from Berber, Aiello, and Bailey Harris, each adding crucial hits, RBIs, and runs. Audrina Garcia also had an outstanding performance, going 2-for-2 with one RBI, while Scott and Mia Morales both crossed the plate once during the final match.

Garcia was the winning pitcher, allowing only seven hits and six runs while striking out three in five innings. Earlier in the semifinals, Ceres defeated Central Elite McLemore with a 12-3 win and also offered commanding performances against Santa Nella Nightmares, Central Elite, and Havoc, improving their season record to 10-1-1.

Looking forward, the Ceres Sizzle will compete in the AST Swing 4 The Fences, scheduled for September 21-22 at Big League Dreams in Manteca. “If the girls play to their potential, they can play with any team around,” expressed Jon Harris, as the team aims for their third consecutive tournament title. “The girls are playing hard. You can tell they want to win. Hopefully, we keep the streak going.”