Facing one its stiffest foes in the Tri-County Athletic League,
the San Benito boys tennis team opened the season Tuesday with a
7-0 loss to Salinas at Ridgemark.
Facing one its stiffest foes in the Tri-County Athletic League, the San Benito boys tennis team opened the season Tuesday with a 7-0 loss to Salinas at Ridgemark.
“They are definitely one of the top teams in the league,” Haybalers coach Leanna Morgan said. “I was most impressed that each of our guys did the best they could.”
San Benito’s No. 3 doubles team of freshman D.J. Nielsen and sophomore Jonathan Rudolfs – in which both are competing in tennis for the first time this year – provided one of the most exciting matches.
They lost the first set, 6-4 and continued to battle in the second set, falling 7-5.
“It was nice to see the young guys have a good showing,” Morgan said.
The ‘Balers No. 1 singles player Michael Coffey, a returner who played last year at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, competed well despite falling 6-2, 6-2 to Frankie Maceira.
“He’s really stepped up, he did a good job,” Morgan said. “I was proud of how he handled himself on the court.”
Overall, Morgan was pleased by the positive attitude by the entire team, despite the result.
“Our guys seem to have a really good attitude coming off the court,” she said. “That’s a big step in maturity.”
Salinas 7, San Benito 0
Singles – Frankie Maceira (Sal) d. Michael Coffey 6-2, 6-2; Farren Casad (Sal) d. Derek Panger 6-0, 6-0; Steven Bateran (Sal) d. Alan Guttierez 6-2, 6-1; Brennan Patton (Sal) d. Conner Bray 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles – Wolf/Jensen (Sal) d. Pan/Frusetta 6-1, 6-1; Krause/Shimizu (Sal) d. Lanning/Labuguern 6-2, 6-0; Gottfried/Brant (Sal) d. Nielsen/Rudolfs 6-4, 7-5.