Berries end Jay season in regional (10/03/07)

PERU - The Patriots won the only match that wasn't close Tuesday night. Unfortunately for them, all of the tight battles went the other way.

Josh Ludy closed his career in victory, but the best season in the history of the Jay County High School boys tennis team came to an end with a 4-1 regional semifinal loss to the Logansport Berries.

In his win, Ludy showed the mental toughness coach Barry Weaver complimented him for after the senior led the Patriots to their third straight sectional title Saturday. He was in control throughout against Jordan McGuire at No. 1 singles, finishing his final season in a JCHS uniform at 18-4 with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph.

Of the remaining four matches, two had sets decided by tiebreaker and two went to a third set. Jay County came up on the short end each time.

The No. 2 doubles duo of Mark Alberson and Adam Horn (18-3) rolled through their opening set, only to fall 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to Daniel Workman and Andrew Rowe. After a tough opening set, Kyle Simmons (10-7) dominated the second at No. 3 singles against Drake Morris but could not keep the momentum rolling in the third as he suffered a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 loss.

Thomas McCowan and Heath Rigby (14-8) had the first-set lead over Jonathan Flatt and Robbie Stewart at No. 1 doubles before dropping it at love in a tiebreaker on the way to a 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 defeat. And at No. 2 singles Phil Powell (14-7) was up 5-3 in the second set before the match slipped away in a tiebreaker by a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) final.

Despite the defeat, Jay County's 16-3 record for 2007 marked the most wins in school history. Their sectional title was the fifth for the Patriots in the last eight seasons.[[In-content Ad]]