July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Netters close with home win (09/29/05)
JCHS boys tennis
Netters close with home win (09/29/05)
By By RAY COONEY-
This time they’re ready.
Last season Jay County’s boys tennis team stumbled into the sectional tournament, taking a 3-2 loss to the Bellmont Braves in their final regular season match. Despite being heavily favored it lost two nights later 3-2 to Blackford, a team it had defeated during the regular season, to drop out of the sectional tournament.
The Patriots are hoping for a long tournament run this year, and they capped the regular season on a good note with a 4-1 victory over Bellmont Wednesday.
“Twelve wins in a year is really good,” said JCHS coach Barry Weaver, whose team opens sectional play today against the host Giants at Marion. “Four-one against Bellmont — they beat us in two spots at DeKalb and were ahead in a third one when Josh (Ludy) had to retire, so I feel like we turned it around. ... We’ll take it and enjoy it. A 4-1 win with Phil (Powell) going three long sets is a good way to go into sectional. We’re real excited about playing ... at Marion.”
Having already broken the regular-season wins record, Jay County matched the regular-season plus tournament mark with the win over Bellmont as they improved to 12-3. The 2002 squad, which had 10 regular-season wins, picked up a pair of tournament victories and finished at 12-5.
The 2005 team would need to get to 15 wins to earn a sectional title.
Randy Evans and Tyler Rigby, the Patriots’ No. 1 doubles duo, looked primed for sectional action as they dominated Dusty Teeple and Ryan Brune Wednesday. They rolled through both sets, winning the final game at love for a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
After making it all the way to the doubles sweet 16 last season, the duo has put together a 15-3 record this year.
No. 1 singles player Kurt Hess also had a solid performance in his final home match. He consistently fought off a nasty serve from Aaron Wilder as he earned his 62nd career win 6-1, 6-2.
“I think one singles and one doubles are going to be steady against everybody we’ve played,” said Weaver, looking toward the sectional tournament. “They know what to expect.”
Jay County also cruised at No. 2 doubles. Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan led the entire way in a 6-2, 6-1 win.
Josh Ludy fell behind in the second set at No. 2 singles, but rallied from his 4-1 deficit. He won four consecutive games to take the lead before Joe Hammond stopped the streak to tie the set at 5-5.
However that was all Hammond could do to hold off Ludy, who hit a perfect cross court shot to win the 11th game of the set. Ludy then overcame a pair of double faults in the final game, taking advantage of a couple of Hammond errors to complete the victory by a score of 6-1, 7-5.
“Two doubles had a nice match tonight,” said Weaver. “They’re learning to play together. They remind me a lot of Randy and Tyler two years ago. They’re just learning the game.
“(Ludy) got behind in that second set. I don’t remember another set where he was behind this year or last year and came back. That’s a good thing for him.”
Powell took the only loss of the night for the Patriots at No. 3 singles, but fought hard in the process. After losing the first set 7-5 he won the second to force a third.
He fell behind 4-1, but rallied all the way back to tie the set at five before dropping the final two games.
“We’re hoping for three more good solid days — Marion tomorrow and hopefully Blackford on Friday,” he said. “We’ve beaten both of those, but we’re certainly not going to look ahead. Last year we looked ahead a little bit and it came back to bite us, so we don’t want to do that.”
Jay County heads into the sectional tournament with more victories than the other four teams combined, but “You still have to win,” Weaver said. “If you don’t win, you go home. We’re going to take it one step (at a time).”
Junior varsity
Jay County won all five junior varsity matches as seniors Jason Crouch and John Retter joined Tyler Rigby, Evan and Hess in all ending their home careers victorious.
Crouch rolled at No. 1 singles 8-4 over Alex Hackman, and Retter and Adam Horn teamed for an 8-3 win over Chris Porter and Demar Amecker at No. 1 doubles. Retter and Crouch also played at No. 2 doubles, topping Caleb Martz and Felix Staple 8-1.
At No. 2 singles James Heare beat Bubba Braun 8-7 (7-4), and at No. 3 singles Horn topped Jared Elherding 8-3.[[In-content Ad]]
Last season Jay County’s boys tennis team stumbled into the sectional tournament, taking a 3-2 loss to the Bellmont Braves in their final regular season match. Despite being heavily favored it lost two nights later 3-2 to Blackford, a team it had defeated during the regular season, to drop out of the sectional tournament.
The Patriots are hoping for a long tournament run this year, and they capped the regular season on a good note with a 4-1 victory over Bellmont Wednesday.
“Twelve wins in a year is really good,” said JCHS coach Barry Weaver, whose team opens sectional play today against the host Giants at Marion. “Four-one against Bellmont — they beat us in two spots at DeKalb and were ahead in a third one when Josh (Ludy) had to retire, so I feel like we turned it around. ... We’ll take it and enjoy it. A 4-1 win with Phil (Powell) going three long sets is a good way to go into sectional. We’re real excited about playing ... at Marion.”
Having already broken the regular-season wins record, Jay County matched the regular-season plus tournament mark with the win over Bellmont as they improved to 12-3. The 2002 squad, which had 10 regular-season wins, picked up a pair of tournament victories and finished at 12-5.
The 2005 team would need to get to 15 wins to earn a sectional title.
Randy Evans and Tyler Rigby, the Patriots’ No. 1 doubles duo, looked primed for sectional action as they dominated Dusty Teeple and Ryan Brune Wednesday. They rolled through both sets, winning the final game at love for a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
After making it all the way to the doubles sweet 16 last season, the duo has put together a 15-3 record this year.
No. 1 singles player Kurt Hess also had a solid performance in his final home match. He consistently fought off a nasty serve from Aaron Wilder as he earned his 62nd career win 6-1, 6-2.
“I think one singles and one doubles are going to be steady against everybody we’ve played,” said Weaver, looking toward the sectional tournament. “They know what to expect.”
Jay County also cruised at No. 2 doubles. Heath Rigby and Thomas McCowan led the entire way in a 6-2, 6-1 win.
Josh Ludy fell behind in the second set at No. 2 singles, but rallied from his 4-1 deficit. He won four consecutive games to take the lead before Joe Hammond stopped the streak to tie the set at 5-5.
However that was all Hammond could do to hold off Ludy, who hit a perfect cross court shot to win the 11th game of the set. Ludy then overcame a pair of double faults in the final game, taking advantage of a couple of Hammond errors to complete the victory by a score of 6-1, 7-5.
“Two doubles had a nice match tonight,” said Weaver. “They’re learning to play together. They remind me a lot of Randy and Tyler two years ago. They’re just learning the game.
“(Ludy) got behind in that second set. I don’t remember another set where he was behind this year or last year and came back. That’s a good thing for him.”
Powell took the only loss of the night for the Patriots at No. 3 singles, but fought hard in the process. After losing the first set 7-5 he won the second to force a third.
He fell behind 4-1, but rallied all the way back to tie the set at five before dropping the final two games.
“We’re hoping for three more good solid days — Marion tomorrow and hopefully Blackford on Friday,” he said. “We’ve beaten both of those, but we’re certainly not going to look ahead. Last year we looked ahead a little bit and it came back to bite us, so we don’t want to do that.”
Jay County heads into the sectional tournament with more victories than the other four teams combined, but “You still have to win,” Weaver said. “If you don’t win, you go home. We’re going to take it one step (at a time).”
Junior varsity
Jay County won all five junior varsity matches as seniors Jason Crouch and John Retter joined Tyler Rigby, Evan and Hess in all ending their home careers victorious.
Crouch rolled at No. 1 singles 8-4 over Alex Hackman, and Retter and Adam Horn teamed for an 8-3 win over Chris Porter and Demar Amecker at No. 1 doubles. Retter and Crouch also played at No. 2 doubles, topping Caleb Martz and Felix Staple 8-1.
At No. 2 singles James Heare beat Bubba Braun 8-7 (7-4), and at No. 3 singles Horn topped Jared Elherding 8-3.[[In-content Ad]]
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