The Ceres Sizzle 10-and-under travel softball team had a positive start to its spring season.

The Sizzle placed first overall at the Stockton Scholarship Tournament on March 9. 

Ceres finished ahead of seven other teams.

“It was our first tournament,” Sizzle head coach Jessica Lopez said. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure how we’d perform. We’re young. We have some eight-and-under players on our team.”

Ceres compiled a perfect 3-0 record at the Stockton event.

Sizzle players Sawyer Alkire, Camila Alvarez, Kinsley Becerra, Remi Carraway, Ella Goblirsch, Victoria Gutierrez, Alexia Lopez, Abby Montesdeoca, Jayleen Peña, Zoe Valadez and Emma Yorba all contributed.

“Right now, their bond is showing through,” coach Lopez said. “The girls are hungry to play. Our defense is what keeps us in games. Our bats are starting to come through.”

Zoe Valadez and Kinsley Becerra logged playing time at pitcher.

“Both of them pitched equally,” Jessica Lopez said. “They threw strikes and let their defense help. They’ve been doing an amazing job.”

The Sizzle edged Central Elite (Modesto) 3-2 for the championship.

“It was a tight game,” Lopez said. “Time was about to run out. We had a minute left.”

Led by Valadez and Peña, Ceres secured the victory in dramatic fashion.

Tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Valadez doubled and scored on Peña’s walk-off single to right-center field.

“It was a great example of staying calm and executing,” Lopez said. “Those two have always been clutch.”

The Sizzle totaled five hits on offense in the title game.

Peña batted 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs and one run.

Valadez batted 2-for-3 with two runs.

Carraway singled.

The Sizzle defeated the Hot Shots (Oakley) 10-7 in the semifinals.

“We led from start to finish,” Lopez said.

Ceres collected nine hits.

Alvarez and Lopez both batted 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs.

Montesdeoca batted 1-for-1 with one RBI and one run.

Goblirsch batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run.

Carraway batted 1-for-1 with one run.

Peña and Valadez batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Becerra scored once.

The Sizzle cruised to a 13-1 win against the Hyenas (Fairfield) in the opening round.

“The momentum shifted our way,” Jessica Lopez said. “Everyone was hitting. We were putting pressure on their defense.”

Ceres totaled 10 eight hits.

Goblirsch batted 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs.

Alvarez batted 2-for-2 with two runs.

Gutierrez batted 1-for-1 with one RBI and one run

Lopez batted 1-for-1 with two runs.

Peña batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run.

Montesdeoca batted 1-for-1 with one run.

Valadez scored twice.

Becerra tallied one run.

Yorba collected one RBI.

Ceres faced older competition during the fall to prepare for the spring.

Competing with an eight-and-under roster, the Sizzle took first in the Ceres League for 10-and-under players.

“We lost a lot of games in the fall but learned a lot,” coach Lopez said. “We wanted to challenge the girls.”