Not doing ‘little things’ results in another loss for Pitman

MODESTO - Stealing bases, laying down a bunt to help advance a teammate, utilizing the team's speedsters. Those are the little things that were occasionally absent this week for the Pitman High baseball team, with all the misery coming to an end Thursday afternoon at Davis High.

High School Scoreboard

Wednesday Baseball Windemuth Classic • Escalon 7, Turlock 4 Thursday Baseball Windemuth Classic • Turlock 2, Enochs 0 (8) • Ceres 5, Pitman 3 Softball NorCal Classic • Turlock 1, Patterson 0 • Calaveras 12, Turlock 2 • Pitman 8, Ripon 0 • Pitman 14, Modesto 1

Turlock produces another well-rounded game with strong pitching, hitting

MODESTO - Ryan Cumberland figured that he'd inch a little closer to home plate, perhaps putting himself in a danger zone. But the Turlock High sophomore baseball player had a plan. He noticed the opposing pitcher's tendency to make him reach for the ball in a previous at-bat.

Pride lose close one in second game of Windemuth

MODESTO - The Pitman High baseball team's first game of the 41st Windemuth Classic on Tuesday morning was one the Pride wanted to forget immediately. And they did that, judging by how they recovered in the second game just hours later.

High School Scoreboard

Saturday Baseball Orestimba Tournament • Orestimba 8, TC 5 • TC 10, Gustine 1 Monday Baseball Windemuth Classic in Modesto • Turlock 8, Davis 3 • Pitman 3, Enochs 2 Tuesday Baseball Windemuth Classic in Modesto • Turlock 4, Woods Cross 2 • Downey 10, Pitman 2 • Redwood Christian 2, Pitman 1 Cantrell Tournament in Hilmar • Hilmar 7, Riverbank 7

Full blast

There was a long, dramatic pause before Turlock High midfielder Emily Thompson unleashed a shot her coach would later refer to as "a well-shot ball." Because only moments before that, the dozens of people who sat in lawn chairs while being covered in blankets to stay warm on a cold March day, watched Pitman High's Iatzity Sanchez remained motionless on the Turlock Sports Complex soccer field after a nasty collision.

Three locals earn recognition beyond athletics

Three local athletes were named recipients of the A. Dale Lacky Scholarships for their contributions in athletics, the classroom and their community, the California Interscholastic Federation Sac-Joaquin Section announced Wednesday. Fifty area student-athletes earned the honor and received scholarships worth $600 to $1,000.

High School Scoreboard

Monday Boys golf Atwater Invitational • 4. Turlock 335, 15. Pitman 365 Southern League • Turlock Christian 226, Mariposa 261 Girls soccer Southern League • TC 1, Denair 0 Softball Southern League • TC 12, Denair 4 Tuesday Baseball WAC • Central Catholic 11, Hilmar 1 Boys golf CCC • Turlock 209, Pitman 218 Softball WAC • Hilmar 2, Central Catholic 0

TC taking a go at track

They don't have enough to field a football team and barely enough for a basketball team. A lot of them are trying out the sport for the first time in their lives, but the Turlock Christian High track and field athletes are giving it a shot.

Bulldog athlete’s teamwork lives on in award

Thirty-four years ago a Turlock High School sophomore named Scott Ladd gave his heart and soul to the game of basketball. Ladd's life was cut short in a car accident, but his parents wanted to honor his memory and that is how the Scott Ladd Memorial Award came about.

Turlock wrestler makes history, again

Remember Alexia Moreno? She's the Turlock High sophomore wrestler who crashed the record books like fine China last season. Well, she did it again. After a historic high school wrestling season in which she became the first Bulldog to win a state tournament title before becoming a Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament finalist, her off-season is equally impressive. She competed in the Folkstyle Nationals in Oklahoma City last weekend and placed fourth in the 123-pound weight ...

TC’s flurry of shots result in win

DENAIR - For the Turlock Christian High girls soccer players, it was frustrating to see all their shots swerve too far to the left or too far to the right, or into the hands of the opposing goalkeepers. But the Eagles remained persistent, which ultimately led to Monday's 1-0 triumph over Southern League foe and fellow Monte Vista Avenue resident Denair High.

Prep Notebook

Same team, better baseball. Those are the words that represent the Turlock Christian High baseball team and first-year coach Jon Valenti, whose squad played host to Mariposa High on Thursday night at Pedretti Park. Mariposa was last season's Southern League runner-up and the 2008 league champion. The significance? The Eagles looked to snap a three-year losing streak against the Grizzlies, with the last previous win coming on March 28, 2007.

Wheelin’ and dealin’

There's been a lot of talk about what Kevin Kramer means to the Turlock High baseball team this year. He's a junior shortstop destined to play for UCLA in a couple seasons, and he's believed to be the first high school athlete in Turlock history to play for the USA Baseball team. But the Bulldogs aren't one-dimensional.

Pride soccer rolls over Golden Valley

MERCED - All of a sudden, the Pitman High girls soccer players looked up to see something they couldn't stop. It was a ball flying high above their heads from their opponent's top player and toward their goalkeeper.

Eagles rally to defeat Pitman

It was as close as it could get Monday night when Pitman High's girls basketball team hosted Turlock Christian High. The Pride controlled most of the game but with 1:00 left in regulation the score was tied, 40-40, as the two teams engaged in a back and forth battle for the win. The deciding blows were dealt by TC's Halie Bergman who nailed a three point shot and pair of free throws in ...

Valley takes home Godinez championship

The 35th annual Frank Godinez basketball tournament almost ended with a showdown of local rivals, Turlock and Pitman High. Although both teams played well in the tournament they both lost in the second round, setting up a championship game between Davis High (6-4) and Valley High (6-1) on Saturday. When it was all said and done, Valley emerged from the tournament as champions, defeating Davis 71-62. Even though the Bulldogs (3-2) and Pride ...

Six pins lead to a Turlock win

Confidence is contagious. It motivates and inspires athletes to perform to their expectations, and sometimes beyond. Such was the case Wednesday night when Turlock High's wrestling team hosted the Los Banos Tigers in its first home dual of the season. The Bulldogs (10-1), fresh off an impressive showing at the Larry Nelson dual tournament in Vacaville, continued their winning ways with a dominate performance, beating the Tigers (1-1) 49-18. "After the performance ...

Pitman unable to match Spartan intensity in second round

The boys from Pitman High's basketball team handed Ceres High a first round loss at the Godinez tournament on Thursday, 55-39. The Pride, led by a solid defensive effort, proved to be too much for the Bulldogs as Pitman led the entire game. "I think were solid on defense," assistant coach Undrea Walker said. "We held an opponent under 45(points) for the last three or four games." Pitman's defense was complimented ...

Turlock comes close, but loses to Valley in second round

Turlock High's boys basketball team entered the first round of the Frank Godinez tournament on Thursday facing a Beyer High team that had only won two games in the past two seasons. Most expected the Bulldogs to pull off an easy victory and cruise into the second round. Although Turlock defeated the Patriots by a score of 55-43, the win was anything but easy. "They gave Pitman fits so I knew they ...

Lack of preparation leads to a Hilmar loss

With only one practice that included all of its players, Hilmar High's boys basketball team entered Tuesday's game against Atwater High under-prepared, yet enthusiastic. Their enthusiasm wasn't enough to finish the Falcons, however, as they lost 58-42. "I think if we had the three weeks with everybody prepared we'd be in a better situation," head coach Danny Freitas said. "The players aren't in basketball mode; they're still in football mode." Many of ...

Denair, Hilmar wrestling teams preparing for success

It's a new season for Hilmar and Denair high's wrestling teams. Time to lace up their shoes, snap on their head gears and get ready to grapple with anyone who steps on the mat. The Coyotes had a chance to test their mettle on Monday when they faced Hughson High. Although they lost, they still had a chance to earn some much needed experience. "We're a real young team, mostly freshman this ...

Yellowjackets unable to fend off Raiders

Hilmar High's girls basketball team entered Monday's home game against Central Catholic with high energy and expectations to win. Unfortunately, the Raiders were able to keep the Yellowjackets at bay, claiming victory 51-38. The matchup was everything one would expect from an early season game. Players from both teams made simple mistakes, fouls were common and, at moments, the offensive timing seemed out of synch. "We need to work on our fundamentals ...

Denair, Hilmar and TC girls hit the court running

Fans of high school girl's basketball should be ready for an exciting season this year. Denair, Hilmar and Turlock Christian High, in particular, have put together quality teams as they begin their chase for the playoffs. Of the three teams, TC boasts the most height on their roster. Marley Burton, 6 feet, 2 inches, serves as the Eagles' centerpiece on offense, using her size and skill to disrupt opposing players and open up ...

Playoffs goal for small school teams

The 2011-12 high school basketball season is in full swing. Players are putting in time and effort in school gyms across the Valley, practicing and preparing for successful seasons. Denair, Hilmar and Turlock Christian High's players are no different. All three teams have already played in at least one game in the past week, testing the state of their teams and gauging what areas still need to be perfected. Although there are plenty ...

Making history

Pride wrestling hungry for a championship

For the past two years Pitman High's wrestling team's ambition of becoming league champions has been thwarted by Golden Valley High. In 2010, the Pride finished second in the Central California Conference as the Cougars took home the title. Last year, Pitman and Turlock finished the season with a tie as Golden Valley once again ended their season as champions. This season, with the return of head coach Chris Wolfley, Pitman looks to a ...

Bulldog wrestlers aim for another league title

Turlock High wrestling has a documented history of success, winning nine league championships since 2000. The past two years haven't gone so well for Turlock, however, as they watched Golden Valley High walk away with the league title. The Bulldogs enter this season determined to bring the title back to Turlock and restore its winning ways. "Our goal usually doesn't change much. Our goal is to always win the league championship," head coach ...

Hilmar to challenge Escalon in Section championships

Hilmar High's football team entered its 14 semifinal playoff game on Friday, hosting a Liberty Ranch High team that, before this year, had never played in a playoff game. Whether it was the experience or the hard hits, the Yellowjackets (11-2) propelled themselves to the section championship with a final score of 37-7; proving that history does indeed repeat itself. Liberty Ranch (9-5) came into the game with an impressive backfield. Its go-to ...

Pride, Bulldog boys teams aim high

It's that time of the year again - turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and the beginning of the high school basketball season. For Turlock and Pitman high's boys basketball teams it's a season of growth. This year a young and inexperienced Bulldog team looks to defend their league championship from a year ago. Turlock's team boasts only two returning starters from last season's championship run. The rest of the team consists of former ...