The defending league champion Turlock High is in trouble, judging by the Bulldogs’ current three-game losing streak. Their latest setback happened Thursday afternoon, when they didn’t capitalize on multi-scoring opportunities and lost 2-0 to Merced High for the second time this season.
But the Bulldogs’ record is still impressive, as they’re 16-4 overall — though all their losses have come in Central California Conference games. Turlock is now tied for second place with crosstown rival Pitman High in the league standings with 8-4 records, behind first-place Merced but good enough for one of the CCC’s three playoff spots. Buhach Colony High is in fourth at 7-5.
Against Merced, the Bulldogs managed just five hits against the opponent’s No. 2 pitcher in Jarod Reyna and had chances to score. However, the Bulldogs will return to league action on May 3, when they face Golden Valley in the first of the final three games, with the other two opponents being Atwater High and Pitman.
Turlock has beaten all of its final three teams this season.
Pride pull off stunning comeback vs. Thunder
Pitman baseball knows how to get it done, even if that means the Pride have to wait until the final moments.
The Pride scored all nine of their runs in the top of the seventh inning to win 9-5 over a stunned Buhach Colony High team at the Thunder’s own field in Atwater. Pitman is now tied with Turlock with an 8-4 record in the CCC, in addition to pushing the Thunder down to fourth.
The top three league teams make the playoffs.
“This win over BC means a lot to us because it showed us that the game is never over until it’s over,” said junior outfielder Zach Olsen, who had four hits for three RBIs and finished with a run scored. “This gave us the confidence we will need for our last three games in league. We will need to focus on one game at a time and take nothing for granted.”
A.J. Derr, Damian Sousa-Johnson and Chris Mattos all finished with two hits each, with Sousa-Johnson also contributing two RBIs. They helped the Pride overcome a 4-0 deficit after the fifth inning.
Pride girls win track meet
In last week’s Stanislaus County Meet, the Pitman girls track and field athletes won their fifth consecutive meet with multi first-place wins. Aman Hundal (400 meters) and Erica Sickert (shot put/discus), Caitlin O’Connell (triple jump) won their respective respects, while the girls teamed up to win both relay events. O’Connell was named the field athlete of the meet after also finishing second in the long jump and third in the high jump.
Today, the Pride are in the second day of the Oregon Relays at the historic Hayward Field.
Pitman soccer clinches league title
Sierrah Miller made nine saves and Emily Nelson scored the lone goal in the Pitman girls soccer team’s 1-0 win over upset-minded Merced on Thursday afternoon to help the Pride clinch the CCC title with one game remaining.
Pitman’s season finale is against Turlock on May 3 at Debely Stadium. The Pride are 12-1-1 in the CCC, while the Bulldogs are 2-6-2. Merced, on the other hand, falls to 9-3-2 in the league standings.
Singles, doubles champions settled by locals
Turlock’s Scott Gray outlasted Pitman’s Michael Davis to win the CCC singles title earlier this week. In doubles play, Pitman’s duo of Morcos Boutros and Mike Lazar won the title after defeating Merced’s Paul Escueta and Ahlad Reddy, 6-3, 6-3.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.
