Girls Soccer Preview 2010

Hilmar Yellowjackets 2009 record: 16-6 overall, 11-0-4 WAC Head coach: Louie Bettencourt Top returners: Haylee Bettencourt (forward), Riley Fielder (goalkeeper), Monica Pires (defender), Nina Arrigale (defender), Lexie Cico (forward) Top newcomers: Alyssa McFaddin (forward), Morgan McFaddin (midfielder/forward) Outlook: There's no question that the Yellowjackets' main objective is not only reaching the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship game for the third time in four years, but also winning it all. Last season's attempt was short, thanks ...

With a number of returners, Turlock soccer gears up for another deep run

The girls soccer season didn't necessary begin for Turlock High on Feb. 27, when the Bulldogs faced Central Valley High in a nonconference game. No, it started months before that -- going all the way back to fall of last year.

SWIMMING AND DIVING PREVIEW 2010

Pitman Pride 2009 record: 3-3 CCC for boys; 6-0 CCC for girls Head coach: Drew Clute (boys, second year), Anne Cornell (girls, seventh year) Assistants: Justin Jones (boys), Doug Jones (girls) Key returners: Ian Roos, Michael Funk and Myles Garton for boys. Brittany Funk, Lexie McCaskill, Stephanie Young, Kyndel Fletcher for girls. Key newcomers: Julien McClellan and Brian Austin for boys. Kamrin Waite for girls. Outlook: The Pride boys have a trio of returners who ...

BOYS GOLF PREVIEW 2010

Turlock Bulldogs 2009 record: 12-0 CCC, 17-2 overall Head coach: Ben Culala (seventh year) Assistant: Jason Boswell Key returners: Paul Smith, Travis Souza, Jeff Chapman Key newcomer: Tyler Gomes Outlook: The Bulldogs lost their first league match in 60 tries earlier this week, but coach Ben Culala says his team will still be a Central California Conference contender. In fact, they have won six consecutive league titles. But Culala expects it to be a little ...

BOYS TENNIS PREVIEW 2010

Pitman Pride 2009 record: 12-0 CCC, 22-5 overall Head coach: Jeff Hayes (fifth year) Assistant: Brian Davis Key returners: Michael Davis, Morcos Boutros, Dillon Weddle, Tiki Brown, Alex Leven, Jacob Bolloli, Jason Moitoso Outlook: Coach Jeff Hayes welcomes a lot of new faces but the goals are all the same for the Pride, who reached the finals of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I postseason with a boatload of talent and experience. There's still some ...

With a determined coach, Hilmar dives into swimming

HILMAR - What Hilmar High coach Howard Tremble is doing is what history books are made for: He's building a sports program from the ground up.

TC junior golfer feels no pressure against the boys

Kathleen Rojas was first introduced to golf at age 3, not long after learning how to walk. About a decade and a half later, she's reached an apex. "Personally, I don't think I've played this well before in my life," she said. It could be viewed as a sort of warning for her competitors, especially because it comes from a teenage girl who regularly plays against the opposite sex. Rojas is one of two female ...

Three local wrestlers return with state medals

Five area wrestlers competed in the CIF State Championships in Bakersfield last weekend and all of them came back to Turlock with plenty of stories to tell. But none returned with the ultimate story.

TC girls fall in state tournament opener

The Turlock Christian girls basketball team ended their season with a 36-74 loss to St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda Tuesday evening, making their exit from the first round of the 2010 California Interscholastic Federation Division V State Championship.

Turlock’s historic season ends in a blaze of athleticism

OAKLAND - There were dunks almost on command. There was a 3-point showcase by various shooters. And there was athleticism the Turlock High boys basketball players rarely, if ever, witnessed and competed against back home.

Prep Baseball Previews 2010

PITMAN PRIDE 2009 record: 16-11 overall, 7-5 CCC Head coach: Mick Tate (8th year) Assistants: Eric Reza, Andy Walker, John Acha, Scott Gehl, Spencer Snodgrass Key returners: Hayden Baldwin (INF/P), Colton Risley (INF), Michael Melendez (OF/P), Kirk Renshaw (OF), Brandon Lewis (INF/OF/P) Key newcomers: AJ Derr (C/INF), Steven Kha (C/INF), Zach Olsen (OF), Clay Cozzitorto (INF), Shea Patterson (OF/P) Outlook: The most troubling thing about this season's Pride is their pitching. There's not much to ...

Turlock’s Kramer a solid contributor for USA Baseball

The 16-under U.S. National Team is showcasing its dominance in the World Youth Baseball Championships in Taichung, Taiwan. It's been convincing win after convincing win.

Local water polo teams make a splash

The Modesto-Stanislaus 18-under water polo players and coaches had a number of things they wanted to achieve this season. For the most part, they were successful.

Turlock’s Kramer survives hellish week to achieve a dream

Imagine if you were told to think and do just one thing, with just a 50-percent chance of making it all worthwhile.

Turlock junior makes USA team

Kevin Kramer had a good-enough showing at the USA Baseball trials to make the cut for the U16 National Team late Friday night.

Pride water polo’s fast start results in postseason win

MODESTO - It wasn't much of a challenge, not because Pitman High boys water polo faced a much lesser opponent. It was just that the Pride made it look that way. "Our guys just came out real hot," coach Drew Clute said. That statement perfectly summed up Pitman's performance against Johansen High, the top seed from the Modesto Metro Conference, in the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament ...

Bulldogs water polo stomp over Modesto, enter today’s quarterfinals

MODESTO - In Saturday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opening round match against Modesto High, there was a sequence that made veteran Turlock High boys water polo coach Steve Feaver think, "Oh, wow." It happened near the end of the second period, when the Bulldogs were down two defenders. Usually, when a team is on the defensive, the players give up an easy goal. Not this time. Senior goalkeeper Neil Wraske knocked down ...

Pitman, Turlock, Hilmar football set for playoffs

Last week, the Pitman High and Turlock High football teams produced a Harvest Bowl classic. The game ended in the final seconds in the regular season finale. Pitman celebrated joyously after winning 16-13, while Turlock came together for a somber post-game meeting. But now, it's time to move on. The No. 7 Pride (9-1 overall) will host No. 10 West High of Tracy (6-4 overall) at Debely Stadium on Thursday at ...

Hilmar soccer loses in first round

The Hilmar High boys soccer team fell to West Campus High in Sacramento on Tuesday with a final score of 4-1. Although the Yellowjackets didn't consider West Campus to be that good of a team, they were unable to find their footing until it was too late, scoring their lone goal towards the end of the game off David Alves' foot. Hilmar coach Louie Bettencourt attributes his team's loss to "lots of mistakes," a ...

Turlock soccer ends season in quarterfinals

Another close one

Pitman, Turlock football trade jabs in recent Harvest Bowls

For the first few years, the main location of the Harvest Bowl trophy was on the Pitman High campus. But for the last four years, it's been moving from place to place like an unstable sports franchise. Truthfully, the owners of the Harvest Bowl trophy don't do too much to the shiny object. Maybe they'll take a picture with it or show it off from time to time. Other than that, it ...

Turlock tennis stays alive in postseason

By ruling all three doubles competitions, the Turlock High girls tennis team advanced in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament after capturing five of the nine matches and topping Tracy High of the San Joaquin Athletic Association. The Bulldogs, the top seeds in the Central California Conference, will face Armijo High of the Monticello Empire League on Monday of next week in the second round of the tournament. Against Tracy, Turlock also ...

THS, TC golfers end season at Masters

STOCKTON - For golfers from Turlock High and Turlock Christian High, their season ended among the best golfers in the Sac-Joaquin Section. At Monday's Masters Tournament, which was set in nice, non-windy weather, Hannah Gong shot an impressive 13-over par 85 to finish as the top Turlock scorer at The Reserve at Spanos Park as her Bulldogs finished with a 466 - not enough to move on - and beating last year's team ...

Coyotes smash Eagles 48-6

In a battle for the coveted Monte Vista Wheel, the Denair High Coyotes grounded the Turlock Christian Eagles 48-6 Friday night at Denair. On senior night, the Coyotes' seniors stepped up their play execution and displayed remarkable athleticism and field intelligence with an emotional performance in their final home game. Coyotes head coach Therion Gregory challenged not only his seniors, but his whole team to play with heart and never give up, ...

Not enough for Hilmar

HILMAR - In perhaps the biggest game since winning the 2008 Sac-Joaquin Section title, the Hilmar High football team knew what was at stake Friday night in the mega-showdown against Escalon High, which is best known as the defending state champ in Division III. But a poor first half was too much for the Yellowjackets to overcome. Despite holding the Cougars scoreless in the final two quarters, as well as rendering standout ...

Bulldogs soccer wins first league title in 15 years

After Tuesday's loss to Golden Valley High, the Turlock High boys soccer team thought its hopes of a Central California Conference title were gone. "We basically thought we lost it already when we lost to Golden Valley," Turlock junior forward Ty Hyer said. But they didn't. They needed to beat crosstown rival Pitman High for a third time on Thursday afternoon, and that's what the Bulldogs did - though just barely. ...

In Feaver’s home farewell, Bulldogs finish with undefeated season

In front of hundreds of cheering fans, and as the night fell cold underneath the lit up Turlock sky, Steve Feaver took a dip into the swimming pool. With his clothes on. Well, it was more like a forced dip, a sort of water polo's take on the Gatorade bath popular in other sports. His Turlock High players wanted to congratulate him in what likely was his final home match at the facility ...

Turlock water polo handles Pitman in season finale

When the season started, Turlock High girls water polo coach Sonja Raynes wasn't sure about her team. The Bulldogs were young. But after Thursday night's 9-1 win over crosstown rival Pitman High in the regular season final, Raynes knew what she had. The Bulldogs controlled the match from the very beginning and never let up, thanks to standout performances by Kristine Groteguth (two goals, one assist, six steals), Haley Raynes (two goals, ...

THS’ Barton top runner in final league meet

Though seemingly out of breath, Ron Barton walked past race officials and other runners around the finish line area and found a tree to lean on - well beyond his team's designated park tables, while other finishers slapped hands and talked about their performance. No one was around him. He wanted to be alone. In terms of time, he had completed his best race of the cross country season at the ...