The Ceres Sizzle 16-and-under travel softball team gained valuable experience at the NAIA College Exposure Showcase Tournament earlier this month in Elk Grove.

“College coaches were watching the girls play,” Sizzle leader Nikole Ferrel said. “I thought the girls would be nervous but they weren’t. They did so well. They had a lot of energy on the field and in the dugout.”

Ceres won six of seven games en route to a second-place finish at the 12-team event.

The Sizzle outscored their opponents, 43-21.

“I didn’t know how well we were going to do,” Ferrel said. “This is our first time playing a Showcase Tournament. Our expectation was to compete. We ended up doing that. We knew the competition would be good. All the teams could hit. We had to step it up with our bats. We didn’t leave a lot of runners on base except for the last game.”

Ceres compiled a 3-1 record in bracket play on June 16.

The Sizzle lost 5-0 to Freedom Moore in the championship game.

“We ran out of gas,” Ferrel said. “The girls got tired.”

Ceres edged Firecrackers Escarega/Westscott 10-8 in the semifinals.

The Sizzle defeated the Ohana Warriors 5-2 in the quarterfinals.

Ceres topped California Riptide Simon 6-3 in the opening round.

The Sizzle went 3-0 in pool play on June 15.

Ceres bested the Chico Black Attack (13-1), West Coast Wolverines (6-5) and Outlaws Elite (3-2).

“It gave us a confidence boost,” Ferrel stated. 

The Sizzle will play in a total of five tournaments this summer.

Coach Ferrel is carrying 13 players on her roster, including Bella Bravo, Bri Bravo, Makaela Brown, Natalie Corella, Bella Delatorre, Amaia Ferrel, Lizzy Figueroa, Selina Luiz, Gabby Ortiz, Tatiana Ortiz, Kyleigh Robinson, Des Sorci and Emma Velasco.

Ceres will compete at the 4th of July College Exposure Showcase Tournament, July 6-7, in Tracy.