Baker tennis falls to Fruitlnd

By GERRY STEELE

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Baker’s tennis teams played a strong nonleague match against Fruitland Tuesday at the Ash Grove Complex.

The Bulldogs lost the boys match 3-2 and the girls 5-0, but had several bright spots.

Baker boys coach George Keister had to shake up his lineup because half of his No. 1 doubles team — Jordan Curtis — was ill.

So Curtis’ partner, Lukas Huggins, played No. 1 singles. Huggins lost to Fruitland’s top player in two sets.

“It was good for to play a tough team like Fruitland,” Keister said. “It was a goo experience for Lukas to play a tougher player as well.”

Ivan Hansen earned Baker’s lone singles win, in three sets at No. 2.

“It was a good match as usual for Ivan,” Keister said. “He started out strong then kind of let down before coming back.”

With the shakeup at No. 1 doubles, Brandon Zunino and Nathan Eiselein teamed up and won in straight sets.

“That was the first time those two guys have played doubles together,” Keister said.

Fruitland won all of the girls matches in straight sets, except the No. 3 singles.

Baker’s Makayla Williams battled her opponent through more than two hours on the court before losing the third set 8-7.

“Makayla played fantastic,” said Baker girls coach Jodi Averett.

Baker now travels to Vale Friday then hosts Weiser Saturday.

Fruitland at Baker

Boys Singles

B. Nattress (F) def. Huggins 7-5, 6-2

Hansen (B) def. Crow 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

T. Nattress (F) def. Burk 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Doubles 

Zunino/Eiselein (B) def. Heerslink/Piper 6-3, 6-0

Reed/Van Paten (F) def. Parry/Vela 6-0, 6-1

JV Doubles 

Brooks/Zunino (B) won 8-6

Brooks/Eiselein (B) won 8-2

Girls Singles

E. Tesnohlidek (F) def. Sizer 6-2, 6-3

Yasuda (F) def. Gilbert 6-0, 6-0

Russell (F) def. Williams 4-6, 6-4, 8-7

Doubles 

Clinton/A. Tesnohlidek (F) def. Galiszewski/Miller 6-1, 6-2

Farmer/Teunissen (F) def. McKim/Kee 6-0, 6-2

JV Singles 

Huff (F) def. Dobbel 8-3