PIRATE BOYS TENNIS FALLS TO BEMIDJI AND GRAND RAPIDS

The Crookston Pirate Boys Tennis team traveled to Bemidji for a triangular on a cool, but sunny afternoon.  The Pirates lost to Bemidji 7-0 and Grand Rapids 4-3.

CROOKSTON VS BEMIDJI –
Going into the match, Crookston knew it was going to be a tough match against the powerful Bemidji Lumberjacks to start the day.  Bemidji easily won the first four singles match by a 48-6 score for a 4-0 lead, officially winning the match.

The first doubles match was a three-setter and the closest match of the first match.  Evan Christensen and Mason Owens lost the first match in a close 6-4 score.  In the second set, Crookston bounced back and played a great set to win 6-2, forcing a second set.  In the third set, Bemidji answered with a 10-5 win to make it 5-0. “Those guys played great tennis,” said Pirate Coach Pat Janorschke. “They were getting the job done, but came up a little short.”
The second doubles team of Nathan Kelly and Jack Garmen paried up for the first time this season and battled, but couldn’t get many game winners and Bemidji won 6-3, 6-3.  “They were doing some nice things,” said Coach Janorschke. “They couldn’t get the big points when they needed them.”
Bemidji won the third doubles match in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 to sweep the match for a 7-0 victory. “Bemidji was very good,” said Coach Janorschke. “I thought we would do a little better, but Bemidji is very good.”

CROOKSTON VS GRAND RAPIDS
The second match of the day had Crookston taking on Grand Rapids and it was a close match with Grand Rapids winning the match 4-3.
The first match completed was first singles where Crookston’s Joey Brule started slow and lost in the first set, but he played much better in the second set and lost 6-4 while Grand Rapids took a 1-0.
The third doubles match was the second match completed as Nathan Kelly and Sam Widseth battled and played a solid match, but came up short 6-4, 6-3 and Grand Rapids led 2-0.
The third match complete was at third singles was Reggie Winjum played a great match and won the first set 6-3 before cruising in the second set for a 6-0 victory to get the Pirate’s first win and they trailed 2-1. “Reggie has really upped his game this year,” said Coach Janorschke. “He really had some nice combo shots and did a nice job.”
Isaac Thomforde, who lost his first match of the season against Bemidji, answered in big way with an exciting and hard-fought 7-5 win in his first set and made quick work of his opponent in the second set with a 6-1 victory to tie the match at 2-2. “He played well and bounced back nicely,” said Coach Janorschke. “He bounced back to get back on the winning side and hopefully he starts a new streak.”
At second doubles, Jack Garmen and Nathan Kelly won the match as they cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. “They played well together,” said Coach Janorschke. “They made quick work and meshed well together.”
First singles and first doubles were the last two matches going and both went to three sets.  Grand Rapids won both third set tie-breakers by identical 10-5 scores to win the match 4-3. “All the matches were pretty tight,” said Coach Janorschke. “It wa a little disappointing to lose two third set tie-breakers, but overall we played okay.”

Crookston improves to 4-7 on the year and head to Detroit Lakes for a triangular on Thursday.