Turlock and Pitman High varsity boys tennis put on a great show on Wednesday afternoon in the makeup match from nearly two weeks prior.
Heading into the matchup, second place was on the line after Buhach Colony defeated both sides once, so a loss wasn't an option.
Tied at 4-4 after eight matches, both sides looked to the No. 1 doubles where the victory was on the line. In the end, Turlock's Warren Foote and Jack Greene topped Pitman's Javier Benitez and Brian Ochoa, 2-6, 7-6 (3) and 6-4.
This secured Turlock's 5-4 victory over the Pride.
“Turlock played a tough match with character and heart,” said Pitman head coach Jeff Hayes.
“Good win, happy for the guys, good team win, all about team, high school is all about team,” said Turlock head coach Jack Schneider. “No. 1 can only win one point and No. 1 doubles, everyone has to do their part. Five wins was enough to get the win but Warren and Jack had the game ball.”
With the close win, Turlock improves to 8-1 in CCC play while Pitman drops to 7-3.
“My boys were pretty deflated at the end,” said Hayes about Pitman’s setback.
Pitman managed to get four wins total. Two wins came from their doubles and two from the No. 3 and 4 singles.
Turlock won 1,2,5 and 6 singles and No. 1 doubles.
Turlock’s No. 1 singles player Davis Griffin defeated Pitman’s Andrew Rosero, 6-3 and 6-4 and then Ziya Ziya of Turlock at No. 2 defeated Lorenz Lat, 6-1 and 6-4.
“I was confident that Davis and Ziya would come out with the win,” said Schneider. “Then I go check court five and six and I have two singles guys lose in the first set and Dani lost and then at 2-2, it put our doubles in a tough situation.”
Turlock went up 2-0 early with wins from Griffin and Ziya, but Pitman responded with their two singles wins to even the score at 2-2.
Pitman’s No. 3 singles player Dennis, topped Turlock’s Shayan Niakan, 6-4 and 6-2. Pitman’s other singles victory came from their No. 4 singles Ross Wheeler who topped Dani Malek, 6-3, 2-6 and 6-3.
The drama only continued as the next wins were split, making it 3-3 followed by a 4-4 score.
At No. 5 singles, Turlock’s Eidan Shabaz defeated Pitman’s Robert Boster, 4-6, 6-1 and 6-4 and at No. 6, Kevin Schmitt of Turlock topped Phillip Shabazzian, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-2.
Turlock’s only doubles win came from their No. 1 team in Foote and Greene, who defeated Pitman’s Benitez and Ochoa.
Pitman’s No. 2 doubles team Lukas Faulder and Alex Lat defeated Neema Rashidi and Dylan Brittain of Turlock, 6-2 and 6-3.
No. 3 doubles was a win for Pitman’s Joey Silveira and Michael Bassard, who topped Turlock’s Caleb Hogan and Givo Shabaz.
“You have to beat the best to win championships,” Schneider added. “I told my doubles team that they gave me maybe more gray hair, I am almost full gray now. I knew our doubles was the weakest point but Warren and Jack clutched up and really are learning and (the game was) just a confidence builder.”
