Backed by a three-run fifth inning, the Turlock High varsity softball team defeated crosstown rival Pitman High by an 8-4 score on their home field Tuesday afternoon to nab their first win of this year’s Central California Athletic League campaign.
The Bulldogs, led by head coach Brian Campbell, are now 1-2 against conference opponents and are 3-10 overall.
Pitman, meanwhile, remains without a win in three CCAL games and dropped to 3-7 overall under first-year head coach Courney Thornhill.
Holding on to a 4-3 lead in what was a back-and-forth game to that point, junior captain Abby Maxwell extended Turlock’s advantage with a solo home run to dead center field. The Bulldogs carried the momentum through the rest of the frame, with Karley Wool reaching base on an error before scoring on a wild pitch minutes later, then Chloe Chapman driving in another run on a groundout.
Turlock scored their eighth and final run of the game the next inning, when Cadee Campbell scored on a Pitman fielding error.
The Pride hung around for most of the game, even jumping ahead with a 2-0 after the first half inning courtesy of Ivy Butler’s two-run double. The Bulldogs responded immediately, knotting the game at 2-2 when Campbell scored on a wild pitch and Wool brought in a run on an infield single. Campbell provided the spark again in the second inning, singling in Chapman and giving her team a 3-2 advantage. Pitman equalized things again in the third when Keanna Haro scored on another error. Jaysee Rubio’s RBI double in the fourth gave the Bulldogs the 4-3 lead, and they never looked back.
The Pride got their fourth and final run across home plate when Kamryn Costa scored on a fielder’s choice by Jillian Baylard.
Pitman will look to get back on track when they travel to Gregori on Tuesday, while Turlock hopes to string together a consecutive win for the first time this season when they host the Jaguars at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Bulldogs shine in pool despite rainy weather
A little bit more water dropping from the sky and into the pool didn’t hinder Turlock and Pitman swimmers on Friday as the two crosstown teams met for the start of Central California Athletic League competition.
The Bulldogs, performing in their home pool at the Steve Feaver Aquatics Center, each won the varsity boys and girls matchups by 30 points.
The boys' score was 101-69.
Earning first for the Bulldogs was Caleb Tucker (200 Free - 1:56.64), Jasper Reimers (200 Individual Medley - 2:11.92), Cooper Harris (50 Free - 22.97), Jackson Leal (100 Butterfly - 1:01.19), Cooper Harris (100 Free - 51.94) and Jacob Packwood (500 Free - 5:16.70). They also won the 200-meter freestyle relay with a 1:36.47 time, the 200-meter medley relay with a 1:48.29 time and the 400-meter freestyle relay with a mark of 3:35.81.
Winners for the Pride were Isaac Norenberg with 1:01.28 time in the 100-meter backstroke and Marc Sousa, who finished the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:08.63.
The Lady Bulldogs won by a 109-61 score.
The Pride had one win in each individual and relay competitions. They came in first in the 200-meter freestyle relay with a time of 1:52.56, while Turlock won the 200-meter medley relay with a time of 2:07.51 and the 400-meter freestyle relay with a 4:10.37 time.
Heidi Lancaster was the Pride’s lone individual winner with a 1:16.72 time in the 100 breaststroke.
Individual winners in the girls competitions for Turlock were Reese Thomas (2:16.56 in 200 Freestyle and 6:10.04 in 500 Free), Joelle Maggard (200 Individual Medley - 2:34.65), Summer Stricker (50 Free - 28.17), Kallie Parker (1:07.61 in 100 Butterfly and 1:10.12 in 100 Backstroke) and Liv Romeo (100 Free - 1:00.82).
Bulldogs, Pride rolling on tennis courts
The Pitman and Turlock tennis program have gone unbeaten through their first six team matches of the 2025 season.
The latest for the Pride was an 8-1 win over Downey to open CCAL play on March 11. The same day, the Bulldogs defeated Modesto 9-0 in their own league opener.
Over those preseason and league meetings, the Pride have won 48 of 54 individual and doubles matches, mostly with the same lineup. Undefeated thus far in singles play is senior Derrick Orth and junior Anthony Stessman, who are each 6-0, as well as senior Ethan Hoftseen and junior Calvin Lin, who are each 5-0. The team of Christiano Barkhoy and Sebastian Russell, as well as the duo of Jordan Aguilar and Keerit Kaeley, are undefeated in doubles play with matching 6-0 records.
Meantime, the Bulldogs, the reigning CCAL champions, have won 37 of their 46 matches with multiple lineup rotations. The trio of Peter Buie, Landon Tilby and Abraham Wooley have been a few of their consistent singles players, and each came into Tuesday action undefeated in three singles matches.
