Tiger tennis plays at Chanute, prepares for league

CHANUTE -- Fort Scott High's tennis team played its last tournament before the league tourney here Friday, finishing in sixth place. This was a bracketed tournament instead of the usual round-robin.

Gage Addington (11-6) was 2-1 in No. 1 singles and finished in second place. In the first round, he defeated Tyler Heinrich of Iola, 8-0. In the semifinals, he beat Lake Lund of Chanute, 8-4. Caleb Mathes of Labette County won the final, 8-6.

"Gage had an excellent tournament," Fort Scott head coach Lynn Barr said. "He played very well in his first two matches, controlling both pretty much throughout. Against Chanute, he went through a short stretch where he dropped a couple of games and wasn't playing quite as well, but turned things around and closed out the match without any further problems.

"Against Mathes, it was another battle, same as the previous two times they have played. Mathes is a good player and is playing very good tennis right now, especially every time he faces Gage. Gage did play better in this match and I think is starting to figure out what he needs to do get the win. A win against Mathes would be big in league and regionals."

Vandaro Chit filled in at No. 2 singled. He lost in the first round to Isaiah Fawson of Iola, 8-0. He drew a bye in the first round of consolation, then lost to Justin Salsbury of Paola, 8-0.

"Vandaro really hung in and played hard for us in this tournament," Barr said. "He's a first year player and is showing improvement each time out. He was comes out and plays hard, give his best effort, and that is all we can ask of him."

Alex Combs and Raifen Cruse (2-4) played No. 1 doubles and finished seventh. They lost their first-round match against Iola's Colby Works/Bryan Mueller, 8-2. In the first round of consolation, Chanute's Zane Wyrick and Drake Gilmore took an 8-4 win. In the seventh-place match, Combs and Cruse beat Labette County's Caleb Webster/Robbie Gibbs, 8-5.

Ryan Harper and Quinton Parsons (3-10) were 0-2 in No. 2 doubles. They lost in the first round to Lee Harter/Kyle Thomas of El Dorado, 8-1, and in consolation to Mason Key/Rhett Allen of Iola, 8-4.

"In doubles play, we were again hurt by unforced errors," Barr said. "We have to do a better job of keeping the ball away from the opposing net man and we have to put the ball away when given the opportunity to win points. We also need to serve better, more pace, better placement and eliminate the double faults.

"All four players played hard, we just have to raise our level of play in doubles going into the SEK Tournament on Thursday."

The Southeast Kansas League Tournament will begin at 9 a.m. at Independence.