Ceres High School's varsity boys tennis team maintained its slim lead over Livingston and Los Banos in the Western Athletic Conference standings last week.
The first-place Bulldogs earned a season sweep of Patterson with a 7-2 home victory on Wednesday and improved to 9-1 in league play.
Livingston and Los Banos have identical 8-2 records.
The top three programs in the seven-team league advance to the playoffs.
"I knew we'd be in the race because we got a lot of talent," Bulldogs head coach Bryan Harden said.
Ceres High took five of six singles and two of three doubles matches from Patterson.
Freshman Julio Ochoa knocked off previously-unbeaten Sterling Ramirez 6-1, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.
Ochoa avenged a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 loss.
"The difference was the game plan," Harden said. "I don't want to get into details because we still have to play him again. But we took away what he likes to do."
Alick Liang topped James Shugan 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) in No. 3 singles play.
Chase Harden topped Adan Cortez 6-2, 6-2 in No. 4 singles play.
Sergio Zepeda topped John Brouse 6-4, 6-1 in No. 5 singles play.
Joel Bhatti topped Uriah Smith 6-0, 6-0 in No. 6 singles play.
Trevor Brazil and David Cisneros bested Harvey Corral and Dylan Halland 6-4, 6-0 in No. 1 doubles action.
Heath Adrian and Shane Kumar bested Emmanuel Zambrana and Damarrio Hammonds 6-0, 1-6, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles action.
Ceres High defeated Patterson 8-1 on the road last month.
The Bulldogs will host Livingston on April 16 and play at Central Valley on April 18.
Both matches will begin at 3 p.m.
Raiders 7, Hawks 2
Central Valley High School's varsity boys tennis squad lost 7-2 at Central Catholic on Wednesday.
The Hawks' doubles teams had success against the Raiders. Central Valley swept two of three matches.
David Saucedo and Justin Omaque defeated Chris Huber and Brendon Bedolla 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles play.
Edgar Castillo and Brandyn Weis teamed up for the first time and defeated Tanner Torres and Brett Rose 6-1, 6-3 in No. 3 doubles play. Weis had a productive debut with the Hawks.
Jesus Lopez and Eric Robles lost 6-1, 6-4 to John Stockman and Brian Andrews in No. 1 doubles play.
Central Valley dropped all six singles matches.
The Hawks (2-8 WAC) will travel to Los Banos on April 16 and host Ceres High on April 18.
The first-place Bulldogs earned a season sweep of Patterson with a 7-2 home victory on Wednesday and improved to 9-1 in league play.
Livingston and Los Banos have identical 8-2 records.
The top three programs in the seven-team league advance to the playoffs.
"I knew we'd be in the race because we got a lot of talent," Bulldogs head coach Bryan Harden said.
Ceres High took five of six singles and two of three doubles matches from Patterson.
Freshman Julio Ochoa knocked off previously-unbeaten Sterling Ramirez 6-1, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.
Ochoa avenged a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 loss.
"The difference was the game plan," Harden said. "I don't want to get into details because we still have to play him again. But we took away what he likes to do."
Alick Liang topped James Shugan 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) in No. 3 singles play.
Chase Harden topped Adan Cortez 6-2, 6-2 in No. 4 singles play.
Sergio Zepeda topped John Brouse 6-4, 6-1 in No. 5 singles play.
Joel Bhatti topped Uriah Smith 6-0, 6-0 in No. 6 singles play.
Trevor Brazil and David Cisneros bested Harvey Corral and Dylan Halland 6-4, 6-0 in No. 1 doubles action.
Heath Adrian and Shane Kumar bested Emmanuel Zambrana and Damarrio Hammonds 6-0, 1-6, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles action.
Ceres High defeated Patterson 8-1 on the road last month.
The Bulldogs will host Livingston on April 16 and play at Central Valley on April 18.
Both matches will begin at 3 p.m.
Raiders 7, Hawks 2
Central Valley High School's varsity boys tennis squad lost 7-2 at Central Catholic on Wednesday.
The Hawks' doubles teams had success against the Raiders. Central Valley swept two of three matches.
David Saucedo and Justin Omaque defeated Chris Huber and Brendon Bedolla 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles play.
Edgar Castillo and Brandyn Weis teamed up for the first time and defeated Tanner Torres and Brett Rose 6-1, 6-3 in No. 3 doubles play. Weis had a productive debut with the Hawks.
Jesus Lopez and Eric Robles lost 6-1, 6-4 to John Stockman and Brian Andrews in No. 1 doubles play.
Central Valley dropped all six singles matches.
The Hawks (2-8 WAC) will travel to Los Banos on April 16 and host Ceres High on April 18.
