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Pitman tennis tops Tracy in first round of Sections
Turlock falls to Vacaville in close match
Pitman tennis 2
Pitman Highs Lorenz Lat captured one of eight victories for the Pride in their first round playoff win over Tracy from home on Monday in the Division-II Sac-Joaquin Section tournament. - photo by Journal file photo

Boys tennis kicked off postseason play on Monday afternoon when both Pitman and Turlock High competed in the Sac-Joaquin Section tournament.

Only the No. 6 Pride of Pitman managed to move on as they toppled No. 11 Tracy in an 8-1 final in the Division-II bracket.

No. 9 Turlock fell in a close 5-4 decision to No. 8 Vacaville when they traveled on the road and nearly saw their match postponed due to inclement weather.

“It was a long trip, had a half hour rain delay to start right off the bat, I said, ‘you gotta be kidding me.’ Soon as the whole thing started it began to pour... but then it stopped and we got it in,” said Turlock head coach Jack Schneider. “We ended up losing, but the next team had to play No. 1 Jesuit and that team was going to get annihilated anyway.”

“Their No. 1 has a great skill set, quick feet and wicked spin with power when he needs it.  But we handled them everywhere else,” said Pitman head coach Jeff Hayes. “Looking forward to Gregori on Friday in the second round.”

Pitman and Turlock will be league foes with Gregori in the upcoming season when they come together, along with Enochs, Modesto and Downey High to create the newly developed Central California Athletic League.

Pitman won five of the six singles matches in straight sets, while the Pride won the doubles with ease, all going in straight sets.

The Turlock match was much closer.

Only Neema Rashidi and Shayan Niakan won the singles side for Turlock.

Four of the six Turlock matches ended in a loss as they were down 2-4 at that point.

On the doubles side, Daniel Warda and Missael Vasquez won their match for Turlock along with Cam Sherwood and Jacob Putnam.

“It was a close match.... guys played well, only Neema and Shayan on, then everybody else lost in our singles in straight sets,” said Schneider. “In doubles we won two out of three, Missael and Daniel won, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 and then superstar Cam and Jacob won, 6-3, 5-7, 10-5.”

Turlock’s year comes to a close as they finished as CCC runners-up in their final season with a 10-2 record.

The Pride will next take on Gregori High on the road in the second round at 4 p.m. Friday.