Sports

Thatcher sweeps Pima 9-0, claims sole possession of section lead

- by News Director
Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pima's Milo Raley reaches for a shot. Thatcher descended on Pima on Friday and asserted its dominance over tennis in the Gila Valley with a commanding 9-0 victory to claim sole posssesion of first place in Division III Section I.
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By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pima No. 1 player Jackson Paull missed the matchup for top tennis player in the Gila Valley with a wrist injury.

PIMA — The Thatcher Eagles boys tennis team continued its season-long dominance Friday afternoon, blanking the host Pima Roughriders 9-0 at Pima High School to take clear control of the Section I standings.

With the victory, Thatcher improved to 10-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in section play. The Eagles have now posted nine 9-0 sweeps this season; their lone loss came March 11 against unbeaten Pusch Ridge. Pima fell to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the section.

Pima was without its No. 1 singles player, Jackson Paull, who was sidelined by a wrist injury and did not compete. The absence proved costly as the Roughriders were unable to slow down a deep and experienced Thatcher lineup.

Singles results

  • No. 1: Isaac Palmer (Sr.) def. Jimmy Smith (Sr.) 6-0, 6-0
  • No. 2: Braden Huish (Sr.) def. Colt Lunt (Jr.) 6-0, 6-0
  • No. 3: Topher Rubalcava (Sr.) def. Eli Rogers (Jr.) 6-0, 6-1
  • No. 4: Ranan Rubalcava (Sr.) def. Garth Lunt (Sr.) 6-2, 6-3
  • No. 5: Jackson Smith (So.) def. Kyler Reed (Jr.) 6-2, 6-0
  • No. 6: Grady Allen (So.) def. Logan McCray (Jr.) 6-1, 6-1
Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Isaac Palmer returns a shot. The Thatcher number one cruised to victory, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles results:

  • No. 1: Braden Huish (Sr.)/Isaac Palmer (Sr.) def. Jimmy Smith (Sr.)/Eli Rogers (Jr.) 8-1
  • No. 2: Topher Rubalcava (Sr.)/Ranan Rubalcava (Sr.) def. Logan McCray (Jr.)/Colt Lunt (Jr.) 8-2
  • No. 3: Jackson Smith (So.)/Grady Allen (So.) def. Kyler Reed (Jr.)/Garth Lunt (Sr.) 8-4
Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Garth Lunt readies his return shot.

The Eagles controlled every set from the opening serve, surrendering only 10 games across all singles matches. Thatcher’s senior leadership — particularly the Rubalcava brothers, Huish, and Palmer — set the tone, while sophomores Jackson Smith and Grady Allen added depth in the lower singles and doubles flights.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pima’s new courts allow for eight simultaneous matches. Pima formerly had to practice and play its home games at EAC due to a lack of tennis courts at its old high school.

The Eagles will be back in action on Monday, April 13, when they travel to face Division I Higley, which could be one of their toughest tests of the season. Higley currently sits in second place in Division I Central with an 11-1 overall record and has seven 9-0 sweeps this season.  

Pima returns home Tuesday, April 14, to host Morenci (3-7) in another section contest as both teams push toward the postseason.

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