WATSONVILLE
After having a week off because of a postponed match on Tuesday, the San Benito High boys tennis team returned to the court on Thursday at Watsonville where it defeated the host Wildcatz 5-2.
Watsonville managed to steal one singles match and one doubles match, but the Haybalers took the rest en route to the easy victory.
San Benito’s No. 1 singles player Derek Panger set the tone when he defeated Jose Martinez 6-0, 6-0, while teammate and No. 2 Mark Tobias upended Sandro Renteria 7-5, 6-1. It took a third-set tiebreaker for ‘Baler Kyle Skinner to defeat Juan Lopez, 5-7, 6-3 and 10-5, while Watsonville scored its only singles win at No. 4 when Josh Pitt beat San Benito’s Austin Pan 6-2, 5-7 and 10-6 in the tiebreaker.
In doubles, ‘Balers Jon Rudolfs and Mike Jensen defeated Ivan Hernandez and Jovani Ruiz 6-2, 6-0, but the No. 2 pairing of Josh Greenwood and Tony Culler lost their match to Ivo Basor and Jorge Mendrano 6-0, 3-6, 8-10. At No. 3, Connor Bray and Eric Johnson easily defeated Lamar Cowens and Isaiah Chaverria 6-4, 6-2.
In an exhibition doubles match, San Benito’s Joe Frusetta and Jacob Panger downed Alvaro Leal and Ivan Hernandez 6-4.
San Benito (2-2) will return to Watsonville on Thursday, March 12 to take on Monte Vista Christian at 4 p.m.
