Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Doubles partners, from left, Miley Preston and Merrell DeCrow celebrate after winning a tough rally. Preston – DeCrow defeated Morenci’s Izzalana Gobert – Ariza Espinoza duo, 8-4, on Tuesday.
Individual state competition is up next
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The Pima girls tennis team finished their regular season strong Wednesday with a perfect sweep over Globe, which has just restarted its tennis program.
The win was the third in a row for Pima (2-4 section, 7-6 division, 7-6 overall) and, coupled with an 8-1 victory over Morenci on Tuesday, helped Pima finish fifth in Division III Section I. However, sitting at #27 in the state would put the Roughriders out of team state competition.
“This year our team focused on pushing ourselves and knowing more about ourselves,” said head coach Torrie Baldwin. “It has been a pleasure to witness these athletes triumph over mental and physical obstacles that seemed too big for them a few weeks ago. Our girl’s team squeaked out a winning record with 7 team wins and 6 losses while the boys had the reverse, 6 team wins and 7 losses. With our team’s average age being about 15 years old, I am incredibly proud of how they have played and conducted themselves!”
Pima will still have individual tennis players at state, however, and will be able to enter two singles and two doubles teams. According to Baldwin, with the data still being crunched on rankings and records she should find out who her state qualifiers will be on Friday.
The Division III State team tournament has a play-in on Friday, with first-round action on April 23 and the quarterfinals on April 30 both at the higher seed’s home courts. The semifinals will be held on May 3 with the championship on Saturday, May 4, both at Paseo Racquet Center at 6268 W. Thunderbird Rd. in Glendale.
Pima currently utilizes tennis courts at Eastern Arizona College for practice and its matches, but the school is planning on constructing eight courts at its new high school in compliance with Arizona Interscholastic Association requirements.
Willcox went undefeated (6-0 section, 13-0 division, 13-0 overall), is the Division III Section I Champion, and is still just ranked No. 3 going into the state playoffs behind undefeated #1 Phoenix Country Day and the 9-1 #2 Scottsdale Prep Spartans. Scottsdale’s lone loss was 3-6 against Phoenix Country Day on March 4.
Locally, Thatcher (5-1 section, 10-3 division, 10-3 overall) finished second in Division III Section I and looks to compete in both team and individual state tennis, as well as Safford (4-2 section, 8-5 division, 8-5 overall). Those teams ended the regular season with Thatcher defeating Safford, 9-0, on Tuesday,
Pima – 8 Morenci – 1
Pima made short work of Morenci on Tuesday, with just one match going in the Wildcats’ favor.
In singles, Morenci’s #1 Anita Gonzalez was victorious over Pima’s #1 Kennedy Minor, 6-4, 6-3, but the rest of the singles matches all went Pima’s way.
Pima’s #2 Mia Ashby defeated Ariza Espinoza, 6-2, 6-2; Pima’s #3 Brookie Burk defeated Izzalana Gobert Jr., 6-0, 6-0; Pima’s #4 Merrell DeCrow defeated Alannah Suarez, 6-5, 6-3; Pima’s #5 Miley Preston defeated Alana Demieville, 6-3, 6-1; and Pima’s #6 Paizli Payne defeated Blanca Macario, 6-0, 6-1.
In doubles, Pima swept Morenci, going a perfect 3-0. The #1 doubles team of Kennedy Minor – Mia Ashby had little trouble against Anita Gonzalez – Blanca Macario, winning 8-2; Miley Preston – Merrell DeCrow duo had an interesting match against Izzalana Gobert – Ariza Espinoza with long rallies and Pima prevailing 8-4; and Paizli Payne – Brookie Burk made short work of Alannah Suarez – Alana Demieville, 8-1.
Pima – 9 Globe – 0
Globe is just starting up its program, and while none of its players were victorious, they played hard and some were very competitive.
In the match versus Pima’s #1 Kennedy Minor versus Globe’s #1 Riley East, the contest was tied at 6-6 before Minor took the last two games to win the set 8-6.
Pima took the singles down the line with #2 Mia Ashby defeating Peyton Tafoya, 8-1; Pima’s #3 Brookie Burk defeated Leilani Verdugo, 8-4; Pima’s #4 Merrell DeCrow defeated Eva Kuczyk, 8-2; Pima’s #5 Miley Preston defeated Annabelle Visnaw, 8-1; and Pima’s #6 Paizli Payne defeated Olivia Graham, 8-4.
In doubles, Pima swept Globe, going a perfect 3-0. The #1 doubles team of Kennedy Minor – Mia Ashby defeated Riley East – Peyton Tafoya, 8-0; Pima’s #2 Miley Preston – Merrell DeCrow defeated Leilani Verdugo – Eva Kucyk, 8-4; and Pima’s #3 Paizli Payne – Brooke Burk defeated Annabelle Visnaw – Olivia Graham, 8-1.
