In a battle for first place in the Central California Conference, Turlock's varsity boys’ tennis team proved to be the superior ones in league after an outright sweep over Pitman in their first meeting of the year, 9-0.

“I want all my players to get better,” said Turlock head coach Jack Schneider. “Not to be content where they are which has always been my philosophy but I knew we would be able to do well against Pitman, I know a lot about their team, I still coach some of them.”

“Turlock is a very deep team,” said Pitman head coach Doug Reimers. “I mean they only lost one senior last year and returned everyone. So very experienced and great tennis team, they won like gentlemen and it was good sportsmanship. We brought the best but they were victorious today.”

Pitman drops to 3-2 in the CCC while Turlock improves to 5-0, halfway through the season.

“I knew it, I mean I don’t want to go out and say it because you never know what can happen,” said Schneider. “League is down but we should be okay with this year going undefeated and take league. Long as everyone stays healthy and eligible then we are good, good grades and such.”

After just 85 minutes into their match with Pitman, the Bulldogs of Turlock had secured four straight sets victories on the singles side.

Davis Griffin, Alex Lima, Marco Andres and Ryan Asai all took straight sets victories for the Bulldogs to go up early.

“I would say a number of my players played some of their best matches of the year although it might not show on paper,” said Reimers. “But really, Turlock’s No. 1 and No. 2 might be the best singles players in the CCC for sure.”

Those two are No. 1 Davis Griffin and No. 2 Alex Lima who have been in a battle with one another for the top spot.

“I mean any one of them could be No. 1 anywhere else in our league and in many schools from the area as well,” said Schneider.

After just two hours into their match, Turlock had already clinched the singles side with a 6-0 sweep.

Only two matches did not end in straight sets. The No. 1 doubles match and the No. 5 singles.

“Our No. 5 guy should have won, not by magic but he dealt with an injury in his ankle and Ross Wheeler our No. 6 guy has been working hard,” said Reimers.

“Our guys kind of had an idea of their style of play,” said Schneider. “I knew we could give them a hard time, especially with Alex [Lima] back in there for us.”

Turlock will next take on Atwater at home at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Pitman’s next match will come against Golden Valley on the road at 3 p.m. Thursday.