LINTON – Bedford North Lawrence won two tight three-set matches to claim the championship match in the Linton Invitational during the boys high school tennis season opener on Saturday.
After topping Vincennes Rivet 5-0 in the first match, the Stars clipped the Miners 3-2 to take the title.
BNL got key wins from Orion Hill at No.3 singles, and the No.1 doubles tandem of Drew Stephenson and Neal Patel, to clip the Miners. Hill battled back from a 3-0 deficit in the third set for a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win over Linton’s Conner Dailey. Stephenson and Patel dropped a first-set tiebreaker before rebounding to edge Banx Mathis and Owen Smith 6-7 (4-7 in the tiebreaker), 6-4, 6-1.
Gavin Baker and Jackson Corey carded the necessary third win, stopping Questyn Hardesty and Silas Nagy 7-5, 6-1 at No.2 doubles.
“The competition was really good for us, and it took handling some adversity to pull it out in the end,” BNL coach Chris Kurtz said. “The match with Linton was tight from the get-go. Orion just refused to lose. Orion displayed a great deal of mental strength. I don’t know where he found it, but he did.”
On the other courts, Holden Nagy conquered Jayden Kemp 6-3, 6-2 at No.1 singles, while BNL’s Isaac Bridges was forced to retire because of a heat illness during his clash with Justin Brown at No.2.
In the opener against the Patriots, the Stars dropped only 12 games in the five matches en route to the sweep. Kemp decked John Gafner 6-3, 6-1 at No.1 singles, Bridges defeated Cody Ladson 6-0, 6-1 at No.2, and Hill handled Brody Shots 6-0, 6-1 at No.3.
Stephenson and Patel took down Max Weiss and Brody Patton 6-4, 6-1 at No.1 doubles, while Baker and Corey eased past Zach Bottoms and Landon Like 6-0, 6-1 at No.2.
“All five spots played well in the first matchup,” Kurtz said. “There were some early nerves but everyone did what just what they needed to get it done. I’m really excited about No.2 doubles. They have a lot of skill for that position and should give teams fits this year.
“It was a hot one out there, but it was nice to get the season started with a couple of wins.”
BNL will journey to Barr-Reeve on Monday.
LINTON INVITATIONAL
BNL 5, VINCENNES RIVET 0
Singles
1 Jayden Kemp d. John Gafner 6-3, 6-1
2 Isaac Bridges d. Cody Ladson 6-0, 6-1
3 Orion Hill d. Brody Shots 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
1 Drew Stephenson and Neal Patel d. Max Weiss and Brody Patton 6-4, 6-1
2 Gavin Baker and Jackson Corey d. Zach Bottoms and Landon Like 6-1, 6-0
BNL 3, LINTON 2
Singles
1 Holden Nagy, L d, Jayden Kemp 6-3. 6-2
2 Justin Brown, L d. Isaac Bridges 5-4 (retired)
3 Orion Hill, BNL d. Conner Dailey 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Doubles
1 Drew Stephenson and Neal Patel, BNL d. Banx Mathis and Owen Smith 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1
2 Gavin Baker and Jackson Corey, BNL d. Questyn Hardesty and Silas Nagy 7-5, 6-1
