Pitman High School’s boys water polo team was unable to overcome second seeded Davis Senior High, losing 16-6 in the quarterfinal round of the Sac-Joaquin playoffs Wednesday at Tokay High School.
Pitman’s Tyler Jamieson scored in the first quarter, giving the Pride an early lead. The Blue Devils responded immediately however, scoring twice before the first quarter was over. By the time the first half came to a close Pitman had scored two more goals, one by Beau Powell and another by Jamieson, but still trailed 7-4.
“We played real well the first half,” Pitman water polo coach Drew Clute said. “Our team defense was pretty on point for the first quarter and a half.”
Goalie Jack Hazlewood helped the Pride’s defensive effort with nine blocks and three steals and center defender Brach Mallek anchored the five-man defense. Mallek recorded his third exclusion before the half however, forcing Pitman into mismatches that Davis Senior took advantage of.
Pitman would score twice more off the hands of Quinten Gay and Scott VanWinkle but in the end the Blue Devils would score nine additional points, sealing the deal on their win.
“They’re very solid,” Clute said of the Blue Devils. “It’s tough to swallow, but I told the guys that the feeling they have is because they are competitors and that when they wake up tomorrow they’ll feel good about how they performed and represented their school.”
With a large graduating group coach Clute is looking forward to developing a new team that will be able to compete next season.
“We’ll be a different team next year, but it’ll be a good different.” Clute said.

To contact Frankie Tovar, e-mail ftovar@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.