The Washington Times-Herald

Homepage

Discussion

October 2, 2012

Pats down WHS

By Dennis Glade Washington Times-Herald

VINCENNES —

VINCENNES — It was lucky number seven for the Vincennes Rivet boy’s tennis team.

The Patriots defeated Washington 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Vincennes Lincoln to win their seventh consecutive sectional championship.

The Hatchets came out quickly and took at 1-0 advantage with Jacob Luttrell and Jonathon Harner beating Rivet’s Seth Miller and Collin Wirth in straight sets (6-0, 6-1). That advantage was short lived as Hatchets No. 1 singles’ Lucas Miller fell to Dalton Robbins 6-1, 6-0 and Corey Thompson lost to Alex Stenger 6-2, 6-0.

Rivet won their third and final match to clinch the sectional championship with Aaron Pea’s hard fought victory against Matthew Pancake 6-3, 6-4. The Hatchets won No. 1 double to finish the match on the losing end of 3-2.

Washington head coach Jason Johnston thought his team competed, but his team didn’t do enough in the areas that were needed to advance to the Jasper Regional.

“We did what we thought were the right moves as far as our lineup goes,” Johnston said. “We put our strongest team out there and we just got beat. It came down on the shoulders of a couple of singles players in particular, but we didn’t execute in some spots and other spots we did very well.”

All year the Hatchets saw strong performances from freshman Lucas Miller, but on Saturday he struggled to get into a rhythm against Robbins.

Johnston said this was a learning experience for his youngest player.

“Today he was against a more experience player in a senior that would hit the ball with some considerable pace,” Johnston said. “It’s not that he couldn’t handle it, he just hasn’t adapted his game to that style yet. He still has all the skills to lead this team.”

While the previous six sectional championships with Rivet were special, head coach Gary Robbins said this year’s tops them all, because of the hard work it took to achieve it in Robbins’ final year as coach.

“This one is really special,” Robbins said. “We had a tough match with Washington earlier in the season and we knew we had to be playing well to win today. This is my last year and we didn’t want to go out losing.”

Washington first doubles team of Garrett Burton-Tyler Stoll will play Tuesday in the doubles sectional at Jasper.

The face the first doubles team from Forest Park at 5:30 p.m.

Johnston said that while the loss was hard to swallow, the future is bright for Washington boy’s tennis.

“We’re still considerably a young team,” Johnston said.  “We look to make asectional run for the next three.”

Text Only
Local News
Obituaries
Local Sports
The "Z" Watch
Must Read
Entertainment
State News
Featured Ads
Facebook
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Poll

Do you have a Summer weather prediction?

Hot drought (like 2012
Wet
Seasonal and pleasant
     View Results
AP Video
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' Jersey Shore Open for Business Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Clicker Ticker
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide