With each match, Frank Fontana learns something new about his tennis team.

Something to tweak.

Something to tinker with.

It was hard to find fault, though, in Tuesday’s performance.

The Manteca High boys tennis team dominated every rung of the ladder in a regional Valley Oak League showdown, sweeping Lathrop 9-0 to win its third consecutive match to open the season.

Points were hard to come by for the Spartans.

Reigning All-Area Boys Tennis Player of the Year YokJing Ma topped Chris Consul in straight sets, conceding just one point.

And so it went for Manteca, now 3-0 on the young season, including 2-0 in VOL play.

Michael Lopez, Gino Mercado, Nolan Osborn, Kyle Thornburg and Spencer Jackson also celebrated wins.

“We are progressing nicely through the season so far,” Fontano said. “Each match gives us something to work on. We want to keep getting better.”

In doubles, Manteca’s top two teams – YokEyh Ma and Si Hao Tang, and Edvin Pepic and Dhillion Patel – cruised to victories, while the third-seeded tandem of Leonard Gutierrez and Matt Pabla got Lathrop’s stiffest test.

Danny Lizcano and Cedric Arauzo pushed Manteca in the first set, before falling 6-4, 6-1.

There is no rest for the Buffaloes, who step onto the court with a rival today.

“We are at Sierra and want to keep the momentum going,” Fontana said.



Oakdale 6, Sierra 3

Mark Paule, Jameson Smith and the tandem of Allen and Alex Len accounted for Sierra’s only points in the loss.

Kimball 7, East Union 2

In Tracy, the doubles team of Gerardo Romero and Jose Sanchez were one of the few bright spots for the Lancers, posting a straight-sets victory. Jake Kramer rallied after an opening set loss to win 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 for the Lancers’ other point.



Central Catholic 7,
 Weston Ranch 2

Nick Salvador helped salvage a lost afternoon for the Cougar tennis program with a straight-sets victory in his No. 6 singles match.

Salvador topped Central Catholic’s Anthony Tan, 6-4, 6-0.



GOLF

Ripon 222, Hughson 282

In Ripon, Nick Sharp fired a 2-under 33 at Spring Creek Country Club, cashing in on birdie attempts on Nos. 6 and 7.

He was one of four Indians to card a sub-50 round. Kole Gonzalez and Justin Brito finished with matching 44s, and Ryan Wilson posted a 48.



Kimball 253,

Lathrop 259

In Tracy, Christian Guzman earned medalist honors at Tracy Golf and Country Club with a 5-over 41, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Spartans in this VOL match. Sam Fallon (48), Geoff Fallon (51), Matt Fallon (54) and Robert Berndt (65) rounded out Lathrop’s scoring.

Manteca 288, Sierra 302

David Ketner and Nathaniel Livingston paced Sierra in a season-opening loss to the Buffaloes with a 52 and 55, respectively, at Manteca Park Golf Course. Manteca’s individual scores were not available by press time.