The Taft Union High School varsity boys tennis team squeaked out a win over the Wasco Tigers, 5-4, there on Thursday.

Wasco was playing without its top two players and Taft was missing its Nos. 1 and 5 players.

At No. 1 singles, Taft’s Sawyer Maier beat Ismael Ramos, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1, and ran him all over the court, which helped in doubles later in the match. Taft’s Rodolfo Magana dropped the first set to Dylan Villalobos, 6-1, but then settled in and won the next two, 7-5, 10-8. Tyler Nguyen was in a battle but finally prevailed over Peter Chavez, 6-2, 3-6, 10-4.

Wasco won the bottom three singles matches when their players committed fewer unforced errors. Juan Rios beat Jose Ramirez, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1. Bryan Vargas beat Bryson Ginn, 6-2, 6-4. And, Efren Vargas beat Antonio Guzman, 6-0, 6-3.

Tied 3-3 after the singles round, each team needed to win two of the three doubles matches. Maier had to miss doubles to perform a solo at the choir concert in Taft, so the Wildcats, like the Tigers, were missing their top two players.

Magana and Nguyen won the key contest at No. 1 doubles when they beat Ramos, tired from his match with Maier, and Villalobos, 7-5, 6-2.

Wasco won the middle match when Chavez and Rios beat Ginn and Guzman, 7-5, 6-2. Taft brothers, Jose Osornio and Fernando Campos, making their varsity debut, shut out Tony Peak and Alejandro Gonzales, 6-0, 6-0.

Taft improved to 4-1 overall; 2-1 in the South Sequoia League.

Taft’s JV team hosted the Bakersfield High Drillers. BHS, a Division II powerhouse, won 8-1. Rutic Bhakta, playing No. 3 singles, earned Taft’s only point. Taft dropped to 6-1 overall.