BEDFORD – Jennings County swept two tense doubles battles while clipping Bedford North Lawrence 3-2 during the final round of the consolation bracket in the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament on Friday night.
The Panthers pulled out a third-set thriller at No.1 doubles and also rallied from deficits in both sets at No.2 doubles.
At No.1, Ty Zohrtaut and Luke Napier slipped past Orion Hill and Micah Carter 6-0, 6-7 (6-8 in the tiebreaker), 6-3, while Luke Clapp and Asher Morin fought past Neal Patel and Braxton Fugate 6-4, 6-4 at No.2.
“The No.1 doubles played an amazing match,” BNL coach Ian Dillman said. “Orion and Micah took their opponents all the way to a close third set. We almost had them.”
BNL won in the lower singles. Asher Thompson stopped Colten Short 6-2, 7-5 at No.2, and Aden Ralston rallied to conquer Charlie Treadway 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 at No.3.
“Aden played a great match, coming back in the second set to win it in a third,” Dillman said. “It was obvious he was getting mad at himself out there, not able to hit any shots in the first set. His mental game is something else.”
BNL played a second match, concluding the rain-suspended match with Greencastle in the finale of the Edgewood Invitational. The Tiger Cubs clawed to a 4-1 victory for that delayed title.
BNL’s Neal Patel and Orion Hill combined for a thrilling win over Liam Grimes and Cayden Scott at No.1 doubles, posting a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11 in the lengthy tiebreaker) decision.
“This match could have gone either way,” Dillman said. “If we played them the day of the tournament (Sept. 13), things would’ve been different. I’m proud of my team for giving me 100-percent effort out there for their second match. Their cheering was really getting under the skin of the other team.
“No.1 doubles was able to pull their match out in a close third set. That’s one of those matches you have to stay strong and finish it off.”
BNL (8-11) will learn its postseason fate when the IHSAA announces sectional pairings on Sunday. The Stars will host Edgewood on Monday.
HHC TOURNAMENT
Consolation round
Jennings County 3, BNL 2
Singles
1 Parker Bales, JC d. Jackson Corey 6-0, 6-0
2 Asher Thompson, BNL d. Colten Short 6-2, 7-5
3 Aden Ralston, BNL d. Charlie Treadway 1-6, 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
1 Ty Zohrtaut and Luke Napier, JC d. Orion Hill and Micah Carter 6-0, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3
2 Luke Clapp and Asher Morin, JC d. Neal Patel and Braxton Fugate 6-4, 6-4
EGDEWOOD INVITATIONAL
Championship
Greencastle 4, BNL 1
Singles
1 Gavin Tyson, G d. Jackson Corey 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
2 Griffin Beasley, G d. Asher Thompson 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
3 Keira Noro, G d. Wyatt Corbin 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
1 Neal Patel and Orion Hill, BNL d. Liam Grimes and Cayden Scott 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11)
2 Jonah Horvath and Harvey Cummings, G d. Micah Carter and Braxton Fugate 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-6
