Articles By Author - Frankie Tovar

Pitman grad burns up the track in college debut

Imagine this: A longtime softball player loses interest in the sport after graduating high school. She enrolls in a junior college, decides to run track, and becomes a contender almost instantly. Without any prior training or experience, she clocks in three seconds shy of the school record in the 800m, places first in the event at the Northern California Community College Track and Field Championships, is named the first seed heading into the State ...

TKO win for Sandra Tovar

Turlock's Sandra Tovar won her first boxing match in Sacramento on Saturday as part of the Delhi Boxing Club. Tovar faced off against Evelyn Mojica in the 11-year-old, 75 pound girls division and finished her Caballero Boxing Club opponent in the second round via TKO. "I was a little nervous; I wanted to put in a good performance," Tovar said. "I've been training really hard for it so I was happy." With ...

Bulldogs ready for rematch with St. Mary’s in DI South Final

When Turlock and Pitman High played their final Central California Conference game on May 8 the two rivals thought it would be the last time they would see each other on the baseball diamond until next year. Turns out they were wrong. After four rounds of firsts in the Division I Sac-Joaquin South Section tournament-the first time four CCC teams made it to the final four and Turlock's first loss in 26 ...

Turlock eliminates Enochs in 26th win

Twenty-six consecutive wins is enough to give any baseball team a heaping dose of confidence. Add two tournament titles, an undefeated league championship campaign, and a talent pool that includes at least six players with college commitments into the mix and it's easy to understand how Turlock High might be feeling at the moment. Which came first-the confidence or the success-can be debated, but what can't be denied is the fact that the ...

Hilmar falls, 3-1, in D-V semi-finals

It's a wrap for Hilmar High's girls soccer team after Wednesday's semi-final loss to Liberty Ranch High in this season's Division V Sac-Joaquin Section playoff tournament. The reigning Trans Valley League champion Yellowjackets and reigning Sierra Valley League champion Hawks played it tight during the first half of the match, but a pair of mental lapses in the second half spelled doom for Hilmar as its girls fell 3-1 and watched their season end abruptly.

Denair boys take SAL title, move onto Div. IV trials

Bulldogs finish CCC undefeated, extend win streak to 25

Turlock High's insanely successful 2013 baseball campaign came to a close on Wednesday with a 9-4 victory over rival Pitman High in the final Central California Conference game of the season. The Bulldogs fended off a late comeback rally from the Pride to become the program's first team to finish with an undefeated league record-an added bonus to their CCC championship and a consecutive win streak record 25 games strong. "Right now, I'm ...

Kaepernick to host first annual Against All Odds golf tournament

From mid-November to early January, Colin Kaepernick revived a storied franchise, energized its loyal fan base, and sent his hometown of Turlock into a frenzy of excitement and pride with his impressive play as San Francisco's starting quarterback. He gained notoriety within the league and beyond as his name became known around the country and the world. Kaepernick's success didn't just impact his personal life or the 49ers' status in the NFL; it ...

Warrior Day 2013

California State University, Stanislaus students celebrated the end of another year at Warrior Day on Friday. This annual campus party was almost canceled last year due to concerns about alcohol sales and consumption. In 2012, a scaled-down, student-only event was put together at short notice. On Friday, the event was back in full-force - although still sans alcohol. A series of bands played at the outdoor festival and students were able to get ...

Pitman pair sign letters of intent

Pitman High's Eric Reza and Kelsee Derr signed their respective letters of intent to compete for Willamette University and Liberty University on Tuesday. Following Pride tradition, the two seniors put ink to paper in the Pitman library as a large crowd of family, friends, coaches, and school administrators watched. Reza was recruited by the Bearcats football team to fill a vacant receiver position and is expected to contribute immediately. Despite schools like Menlo ...

Turlock girls unable to overcome Granite Bay

Turlock High's girls soccer team found itself stuck between Granite Bay and a hard place Tuesday afternoon during the first round of the Division I Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. The reigning Central California Conference champions hosted the Grizzlies in what started as a fast paced matchup, but the Bulldogs soon found themselves outsized and outmuscled in what turned into a 3-1 loss and an early post-season elimination. "At this level of play, there's no ...

Blood, sweat and cheers

Hawks clip Eagles in baseball season finale

The season is over for Turlock Christian and Delhi High baseball teams. The Monte Vista Avenue rivals met at Pedretti Field on Thursday for their last game of the season and played through seven innings under the Valley sun. After a near TC comeback, Delhi held on for a 5-3 victory to complete a season sweep over its Southern Athletic League rival. "With the transition year and the rebuilding, from where we started ...

Hilmar soccer wins 2nd straight TVL title

Back to back. That's what the girls at Hilmar High are chanting after winning this season's Trans Valley League Championship on Wednesday. With a 2-1 defeat of Ripon High, the Yellowjackets cemented their place as TVL title holders and officially opened the gates for another trip into the post-season. "It's a pretty good feeling to pull it off," Hilmar head coach Louie Bettencourt said. "They deserved it; they worked hard. I'm very happy ...

Pride soccer ends season with rivalry win

Turlock and Pitman High met at Joe Debely Stadium for the 15th and final Central California Conference match of the season on Wednesday. With a slight lead over second place Golden Valley High in the league standings, the Bulldogs were playing for their second consecutive outright CCC championship. The Pride (7-5-3 CCC) had other plans, though, as they looked to replace lost post-season hopes with a victory over their cross-town rivals. With the ...