SCreek-Rosewood tennis
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 4, 2011 1:50 PM
SEVEN SPRINGS -- Goal No. 1 complete.
Spring Creek clinched its first Class 1-A Carolina Conference girls' regular-season dual-team tennis championship with a doubleheader sweep of county archrival Rosewood on a sunsplashed Monday afternoon.
The Gators claimed the opener 6-0 and took the nightcap 5-2.
"(SC coach) Beverly (Boltinhouse) has a good team this year. They've really come along the last couple of years," said Rosewood coach Debbie Bailey as she watched singles play during the opening match.
Spring Creek (8-1 overall, 7-0 CC) will try to accomplish its second preseason goal -- finish league play unbeaten -- today at home against Ayden-Grifton, which won the 2009 and 2010 Carolina Conference titles. The Gators have secured the conference's No. 1 berth for the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs, which begin Oct. 18.
Rosewood (4-4, 4-3) and Goldsboro are battling for the league's second postseason spot.
"They played great considering I had a couple of girls who had to leave after the first match," said Boltinhouse. "I've got a bunch of really good, well-rounded girls who have to work around things."
The teams played eight-game pro sets each match.
Emily Daniel, Heather Frey, Katlyn Casey, Colleen Finlay, Jordan Cook and Brittany Carmack each emerged victorious in singles play during the opening match. Cook dropped just one game at the No. 5 slot.
Casey and Finlay missed the second match due to prior engagements.
Cook and Carmack bumped up to Nos. 3 and No. 4, respectively, and prevailed along with Daniel and Frey.
Rosewood's Meghan Millard and Hallie Batson triumphed at Nos. 5 and 6 singles, respectively. Millard defeated Daysi Ramirez 8-6, while Batson turned back Tara Davis 10-8.
Spring Creek's Cook-Carmack sealed the outcome with an 8-3 decision over Abigale Godwin-Rebecca Sass at No. 1 doubles.
"They all played well," said Boltinhouse. "Even my number eight and nine (girls) that played five and six (in the second match). Everybody just stepped up and did what they had to. It's been a really good team this year.
"They were ready."