State-Journal.com - Flyers get their revenge

Same score, different result.

Franklin County's boys tennis team extracted a bit of revenge Wednesday, beating Western Hills 3-2 at the FCHS courts.

Western Hills had defeated the Flyers by the same score about two weeks ago.

"We're very happy," FCHS coach Terry Johnson said. "We were disappointed about losing to Western Hills the first time because we were up 5-3 in the third set in No. 2 doubles and lost four straight games, and we lost the match 3-2.
"It was tough because we were in position to win," he added, "but it didn't happen. We congratulated Western Hills. They were the better team that day, but we rededicated ourselves to getting better."

On Wednesday, Western Hills' wins came at the top two singles spots as No. 1 Andrew Howard defeated Cain Mitchell 6-3, 6-1, and No. 2 Tim Stark defeated Alex Sturm 6-0, 6-1.

FCHS' Steve Saligumba took the No. 3 singles match 6-1, 6-4 over Noel Hudson, and the Flyers swept the doubles as No. 1 Tyler Pewitt and Charles Mitchell defeated Taylor Wise and Chris Wood 6-2, 6-2, and No. 2 Bryan Steitz and Alex Amato defeated Jared Luyster and Dillon Mann 6-1, 6-1.

"It's tough because we'd beaten them earlier in the season," WHHS coach Eric Shields said. "That match
was as close as close could be. We won it in the third set of No. 2 doubles and won 3-2.

"We were pretty sure today would come down to No. 1 doubles," he added. "Taylor and Chris had a great Harnice tournament and we thought that might carry into today, but they didn't put it together like they did in the tournament, and Tyler and Charles played really well."

Johnson and his team also knew doubles would play a big role in not only Wednesday's match but the team's success this season.

"When we got through with our matches this season, whether they were home or away," Johnson said, "we'd come back out on these courts and the players would stay until 9 or 9:30 working on their doubles games.

"Rob Moore and Mike Butler worked with them," he added. "The first time we played them (Western Hills) both doubles went to three sets, and this time it was two sets."

The Flyers, who stood at 4-4 after the loss at Western Hills, are now 13-5 with two regular-season matches left.
"County has really come on this year," Shields said. "They started off 0-3, but they've been on fire.

They've been playing really well, and they're peaking at the right time."

Johnson has been impressed with what he's seen from the Wolverines.

"Western Hills has a good team, and this was a good win for us," Johnson said. "Eric does a great job, and his players are always well prepared."

Wednesday's loss was just the second this season for the Wolverines, who won the team title at the John Harnice Memorial Tournament Saturday with Howard taking the singles title and Wood and Wise winning at doubles.

"We had a very strong Harnice tournament across the board," Shields said. "It's the type of performance we need to have at the regional tournament. Andrew did a great job, our doubles team was strong, Tim played really well until he came up against (Central Hardin's Jacob) Blevins in the semis, and our No. 2 doubles picked up a point.

"We're still OK," he added. "We're playing our best tennis of the season, and we've gotten better since the beginning of the season."

The regional tournament starts Monday at FCHS, and the regional draw will be Friday evening.

"I like to think that Western Hills and Franklin County are among the top five teams in the region," Shields said. "To lose to County, one of the top teams in the region, while you don't want to, it's OK."

Western Hills (12-2) has one more regular-season match left, hosting Anderson County Friday. The Flyers are scheduled to play at Anderson County today, and they close out the regular season at home Friday against Frankfort High.

Exhibitions " Chase Haddix-Dillon Banks (FC) def. Ian Colten-Carl Durcholz 8-1, James Robb (FC) def. Alan Lanza 8-2, Tito Perry (FC) def. Augie Phillips 8-1, Righter Dundon (FC) def. Drew Sloan 6-0, Timothy Peck (FC) def. Cam Poole 8-0, Kevin Stiles-Adam Brown (FC) def. Zac Bates-Jeremy Clatos 9-7.