The historic season continues on for the Oakdale High School boy’s tennis team. Oakdale’s first playoff run in over 20 years continued on Tuesday, May 7 at Modesto Junior College as the Mustangs took on Manteca in the 2019 Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championship. Manteca defeated Oakdale 7-2 in the finals. Full story to come.
To reach the finals, the three seeded Mustangs knocked off the second seed Valley 5-4 in semifinal play. In singles action, the day started off rough for Oakdale as Liam Peters and Frankie Dutra, Oakdale’s one and two singles players, each suffered defeat. Peters lost 4-6, 6-6, 7-3. Dutra lost his set 1-6, 6-1, 1-6. Caleb Poling earned a straight set win 6-0, 7-5 for the team’s first win of the day. Mark Chavez fell 2-6, 4-6. Jimmy Homer lost his match 4-6, 5-7. Zach Nielson turned the Mustangs’ fortunes around with a 6-0, 7-5 win to start the comeback.
Entering doubles down 2-4, the Oakdale doubles teams earned a 3-0 sweep of Valley for the win. Teo Diaz and Aiden Rodrigues won in a three set match, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Chris Frye and Max Moore won theirs 6-2, 6-3. Wrapping up the day was Hayden Hill and Gil Alburo with a 6-3, 6-1 win.
“I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed with this crew,” said Mustangs coach Grant Miller. “They’re Mustangs through and through. Never quit, never say die until your last breath is how they play.”
Oakdale defeated Los Banos 6-3 on Monday, April 29 to reach the semifinals.