Jay improves in doubleheader

Both of the Patriots’ matches finished with 5-0 scores.
One was a win, the other a loss.
They were happy about their performance in both.
Jay County beat Muncie Southside 5-0 for the second time this year in its morning match Saturday, and then played competitive tennis in the afternoon despite falling 5-0 to the Connersville Spartans.
“I think we won a match this morning that was fun in one aspect, and we lost one this afternoon that was almost equally as fun even though we were on the short end of the score,” said JCHS coach Barry Weaver after his team hosted its former Olympic Athletic Conference rivals. “The kids played really nice tennis …
“You never want to end up on the bad side of the score, but the way we played tennis today was much improved over a week-and-a-half, two weeks ago when we played (good) competition and didn’t even compete.
“Overall it was a good effort.”
Garhett Blackford, playing at No. 2 singles for the first time, led the Patriots (3-6) to their victory over Southside.
The sophomore wasted no time, taking the first set when a shot by Southside’s Elisha North flew long. He quickly built a 5-0 lead in the second set, went up 40-love in the sixth game on an overhead volley winner and then ended the shutout victory on a double fault by North.
“I thought he played smart (against Southside), and in this one the same thing.”  said Weaver after Blackford’s 6-2, 7-5 to Kayden Matthews of Connersville at No. 3 singles. “This was another step up as far as his competition …
“It was a good day for him I think. I think he learned a lot today.”
Josh Lykins and Zach Pryor just missed a shutout against Southside as they topped Austin Durke and Caleb Wilkins 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles. Landry Inman beat Michael Morris 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, Jake Schwieterman and Evan Mathias defeated Joe Stanley and Daulton Evans 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles and Nick Leuthold rallied for a 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 (10-2) victory over Jasper Jameson at No. 3 singles.
Mathias and Schwieterman nearly rallied to force a third set in their No. 2 doubles match against Connersville’s Jacob Patterson and Brenner Boggs, only to lose 6-4, 7-6 (7-2). Weaver said he was also happy with the way Inman fought in a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Zach Mustin.
“Landry at No. 1 was a great fun match to watch,” said Weaver. “They’re two kids that are very similar and play the game with enthusiasm.
“Our No. 2, Josh Martin, played a nice match. He had not played with that much zest (recently) so it was great to see him turn around.”
Martin fell 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 singles to Brandon Briscoe, and Lykins and Pryor lost 6-3, 6-1 to Jacob Bailey and Zach Lewis at No. 1 doubles.[[In-content Ad]]