It was a reversal of roles for Pitman High tennis when its boys hosted Atwater High on Thursday. Two days after losing to Golden Valley High 4-5, the Pride pulled off a one-match win of their own, 5-4, against the Falcons to bring their record in the Central California Conference to 1-1.

“The team as a whole has been improving,” Pitman head coach Doug Reimers said.

Pitman was able to earn its first league win of the season thanks to late-set efforts from its number six singles player Dennis Lawson and it number one doubles team Gore Hayer and Noah Goldberg.

Lawson survived what Reimers described as a “three-set marathon” to earn the 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3 win against Atwater's Leonardo Diaz.

“He was victorious over a very talented young man,” Reimers said.

Hayer and Goldberg didn't go three sets with the Falcon pair of Victor Soto and Jaheem Peterson, but their match was close nonetheless. After winning the first set, the Pride team found themselves down 0-3 in the second. Instead of dropping the second set and playing into a third, however, Pitman's doubles team battled back to earn the 6-4 win and take the match.

“They ended up mounting a comeback,” Reimers said. “Without those guys finishing late in the day... it would have definitely gone to a very tough and balanced Atwater team.”

Pitman's number one singles player, Jeremy Moitoso, also had a good showing on Thursday as he beat Atwaters new number one guy, Chris Smith, 6-4 and 6-1.

“Jeremy put together his best match so far this season,” Reimers said. “Jeremy's coming back into form. He's playing strong, he's playing smart, so that his experience as helped him be victorious.”

Pitman will now host Buhach Colony High on Tuesday before playing back-to-back matches against CCC juggernauts Merced and Turlock High on March 26 and March 31, respectively.