Rosewood netters slip past Chargers

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 5, 2004 1:55 PM

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Rosewood prevailed in two of three doubles matches and squeezed past Ayden-Grifton 5-4 in a Classes 1-A/2-A Carolina/Eastern Plains Conference tennis match Thursday afternoon.

The Eagles' No. 1 doubles of Wesley Lovelady/Matt Mitchell triumphed 8-3 against the Chargers' Brandon Jordan-Kyle Beach. Teammates Joey Churchell-J.P. Cummins, the No. 3 tandem, rolled past Eric Dendy-Matt Allen 8-3.

Lovelady and Cummins each won a straight-set match in singles. Churchwell outlasted Dendy 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

It was the season-opening match for Rosewood.

The Eagles continue league play next Tuesday against North Lenoir at the Snow Hill Tennis Complex. The Chargers welcome conference newcomer North Pitt the same afternoon.

Rosewood 5, Ayden-Grifton 4

Singles -- No. 1 Wesley Lovelady (R) d. Brandon Jordan 6-1, 6-3; No. 2 Matt Leggett (AG) d. Matt Mitchell 6-2, 2-6, 6-0; No. 3 Kyle Beach (AG) d. Brandon Heitpas 6-2, 6-3; No. 4 Sam Sutton (AG) d. Ty Johnson 6-4, 1-6, 6-1; No. 5 Joey Churchwell (R) d. Eric Dendy 1-6, 6-4, 6-3; No. 6 J.P. Cummins (R) d. Matt Allen 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles -- No. 1 Lovelady-Mitchell (R) d. Jordan-Beach 8-3; No. 2 Leggett-Sutton (AG) d. Heitpas-Johnson 8-2; No. 3 Churchwell-Cummins (R) d. Dendy-Allen 8-3.

Greene Central

notches shutout

TARBORO -- Greene Central lost a mere five games in singles and doubles combined in a 9-0 victory against Tarboro in Carolina/EPC 1-A/2-A action Thursday afternoon.

The Rams (3-0) climbed to 2-0 in the league.

Brent Darden, Lin Hall, Dustin Grant and Brian Sugg each recorded a straight-set shutout. Top-seeded Andrew Hulbert prevailed 6-1, 6-0; while fourth-seeded Chris Hardy stopped Blake Brittian 6-3, 6-0.

"Brian played a very solid match today," Rams coach Brad Sauls said. "He really played under control and used the whole court.

"We have gotten off to a great start this season. Our singles have been solid, but I have been really impressed with our doubles. All three teams have been incorporating a variety of strategies and communicating well."

Greene Central entertains SouthWest Edgecombe next Tuesday afternoon.

Greene Central 9, Tarboro 0

Singles -- No. 1 Andrew Hulbert (GC) d. Chris Taylor 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 Brent Darden (GC) d. Johnathan Pearce 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Lin Hall (GC) d. Brian Mattem 6-0, 6-0; No. 4 Chris Hardy (GC) d. Blake Brittian 6-3, 6-0; No. 5 Dustin Grant (GC) d. Chase Enzor 6-0, 6-0; No. 6 Brian Sugg (GC) d. Peter Heffley 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles -- No. 1 Hulbert-Darden (GC) d. Taylor-Mattem 8-0; No. 2 Hall-Hardy (GC) d. Pearce-Brittian 8-0; No. 3 Grant-Sugg (GC) d. Enzor-Heffley 8-1.

Warriors fall

in ECC 3-A opener

Andrew Smith picked up the lone victory as Eastern Wayne opened its Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference season with an 8-1 loss against Washington on the Wayne Community College courts.

Smith, the No. 4 seed, dropped an opening-set tiebreaker against the Pam Pack's Ben Peele. But he rebounded to take the next two sets and match by scores of 6-4 and 7-5.

Washington swept the remaining five singles matches in straight sets.

Eastern Wayne (0-2, 0-1 ECC) is the guest of West Carteret next Tuesday.

Washington 8, Eastern Wayne 1

Singles -- No. 1 Bryan Nichols (W) d. Alex Bryant 6-3, 6-1; No. 2 Craig Davis (W) d. James Arceneaux 6-1, 6-2; No. 3 Kevin Stancil (W) d. Ben Ziccardi 6-2, 6-1; No. 4 Andrew Smith (EW) d. Ben Peele 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5; No. 5 Will Whitley (W) d. John King 6-2, 6-1; No. 6 Nathan Worsley (W) d. Phillip Bunn 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles -- No. 1 Nichols-Stancil (W) d. Bryant-King 8-0; No. 2 Davis-Peele (W) d. Arceneaux-Ziccardi 8-4; No. 3 Whitley-Andrew Ormonde (W) d. Smith-Bunn 8-2.