East Union outpointed rival Sierra 8-1 at the Manteca Regional Tennis Center on Wednesday, but it far more competitive than the final score indicates.
The Lancers, who improved to 3-2 in the Valley Oak League, pulled out two three-set victories, had a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7) win at No. 2 singles from Jake Krammer and got the upper hand in a pair of 6-4, 6-4 wins in doubles play.
Kyle Banks accounted for Sierra’s lone point, as he knocked off Kyle Niendorf 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 1 singles match. East Union No. 3 and 4 Andrew Rossette (6-0, 6-0) and Gerardo Romero (6-2, 6-1) made quick work of their opponents, and Jose Sanchez held off Cyrus Hunter 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 5 contest. No. 6 Matthew Vadachira pulled out a 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback win over Mat Len.
The No. 1 doubles showdown was claimed by Hector Romero and Brandon Mitchell, who edged out Tyler Holmes and Robert Tavares 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (3). The No. 2 (Arvind Sing, Jeffin Abraham) and 3 (Juluan Abrew, Tyler Cobb) tandems for East Union came through with the 6-4, 6-4 victories.
Manteca 6,
Central Catholic 3
The Buffaloes fended off shorthanded Central Catholic of Modesto to set up Friday’s battle of unbeatens with Kimball.
Manteca picked up four points in singles action with wins coming from Kyle Thornburg (7-5, 6-2), Si Hao Tang (6-1, 6-4), Lenard Gutierrez (6-3, 6-2) and Matt Pabla (7-5, 6-2). Central Catholic’s Conor Fenton defeated Solman Aniss 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 1 singles contest.
Dhillon Patel and Kurtis Ma won the No. 1 doubles match, 6-2, 6-0. Joseph Poncini and Cameron Gonzalez were victorious at No. 3 doubles, 6-2, 6-3. Rey Anaya and Kevin Lin dropped a 5-7, 6-4, 5-7 heartbreaker.
“Central Catholic came to play and definitely wanted to beat us,” Manteca coach Frank Fontana said, adding that the visiting Raiders are still bringing players in from their Sac-Joaquin Section championship basketball team. “Overall, I was pleased with the effort our guys gave today, and we have set up the match that we want to play on Friday. I’m sure that Kimball will want to beat us. Both are undefeated in league (and) we have been the top two teams in the VOL for the last couple of years.”
Weston Ranch 5,
Lathrop 4
STOCKTON — Weston Ranch (1-5) notched its first win of the season and needed points from all three of its doubles teams to do so.
Malachi Moore and Brevin Beltran won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles match with Lathrop’s Justin Diza and Rob Luckett. Scott Cabarrabang and Raminder Singh (6-1, 6-2) took the No. 2 match, and Noah Beltran and Phillip Orpilla (6-4, 6-1) won at No. 3. No. 1 Kent Balacy (6-2, 6-2) and No. 6 Steve Cabarrabang (6-4, 6-2) earned singles points for the Cougars.
Lathrop winners were Navinder Dhindsa (6-2, 6-2), Sahub Singh (6-3, 6-2), Chad Hoang (7-5, 7-5) and Amrit Paul Singh (6-4, 0-6, 7-5).
