The Ceres Sizzle 12-and-under travel softball team opened the fall season with a first-place finish at the Aug. 17-18 NSA Fastpitch Fiasco in Turlock.

Ceres accomplished its goal.

“Our expectations were high going into the tournament,” head coach Jon Harris said. “Our plan was to win the Gold championship.”

The Sizzle compiled a 5-1-1 record while playing seven games in two days at Pedretti Park.

“They played hard,” Harris said. “They didn’t quit.”

“Being consistent for six to seven games over a weekend is difficult,” he added. “It’s easy for a 12 year old to lose focus.”

Ceres topped the Salinas Enforces 11-7 in the finals on Aug. 18.

“We were tired after the semifinal game. We were playing on adrenaline. We played a clean, game. We didn’t have many mistakes. We were focused.”

The Sizzle posted a team batting average of .316 with two doubles, six RBIs, 11 runs, nine walks and four strikeouts during the championship game.

Audrina Garcia batted 2-for-2 with one double, three RBIs, three runs, three stolen bases and one walk.

Mia Morales batted 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs, two stolen bases.

Vanessa Berber batted 1-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base and one walk.

Paisley McDaniel batted 1-for-1 with one RBI and one run.

Brynley Aiello batted 1-for-2 with one double, one run and one walk.

Hailey Sainz chipped in with one RBI and one stolen base.

Lysette Beltran had one run, four stolen bases and two walks.

Bailey Harris had one run, one stolen base and one walk.

Rylee Ginise had one run, one stolen base and one walk.

Harris was the winning pitcher.

She allowed two earned runs and five hits with four strikeouts and four walks in four innings.

The Sizzle battled back from an eight-run deficit on their way to defeating the Atwater Flight 16-10 in the semifinals on Aug. 18.

The game lasted two-plus hours.

“The momentum shifted in our favor and the girls ran with it,” coach Harris said. “Everybody was hitting. The best thing about the game is they didn’t get down.”

Ceres also collected wins against the Lady Blacksox on Aug. 18, and Havoc (7-0) and Atwater Flight-Pasley on Aug. 17.

The Sizzle tied the East Bullets-Roper (3-3) on Aug. 18 and lost to the Central Elite (9-3) on Aug. 17.

“Our defense is good most of the time,” Jon Harris said. “Our offense is pretty consistent. When our offense and defense are both clicking, we get the results we got this weekend.”

Garcia, Morales, Berber, McDaniel, Sainz, Beltran, Harris, Ginise, Brynley Aiello, Jillian Aiello, Lysette Beltran, London Torres and Layla Scott all contributed.

Ceres will compete at the NSA Labor Day Tournament, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, at Rainbow Fields.

“We definitely expect to be in every game we play,” coach Harris said. “But it’s not championship or bust. They’re kids.”