Andrew Ball looked around all the neighboring courts Friday and saw his Arts & Sciences tennis teammates walking off with victories.
“I said to myself that I needed to get this done,” he said. “It was so hot outside.”
Ball’s ensuing 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles clinched the Patriots’ first-ever region championship with a 4-0 win over Collegedale Academy.
“We’re excited about getting this win,” Ball said. “We really didn’t want to have to play them in doubles, so I was happy to be able to get it finished in singles.”
Jackson Lenoir won 6-3, 6-4; Brian Wright won 6-0, 6-4; and District 6 individual runner-up Alex Evers won 6-2, 6-0 in setting up the Region 3-A/AA championship for the Patriots. Collegedale’s Jordan Evans led Ian Derthick 6-1, 5-4 at No. 2 singles when the match was stopped.
“It’s a big deal to win,” CSAS coach Jerry Pate said. “We’re hoping this might be the year we get over the road.”
The Patriots (13-0) will be very familiar with their next opponent. Region 4 champion Notre Dame, which defeated them in a region final last year, will host them Friday in a sectional at the Champions Club for a spot in the state tournament.
Both teams returned all of their players from last year, but the Patriots did add one — Derthick, who was on a mission trip to Colombia the past two seasons.
“We’re pretty much the same teams from last year,” Ball said. “Ian is a good addition for us, so we’re looking forward to next week.”
Said Pate: “Everybody for us is better, so it’s going to come down to who’s improved the most and who wants to win.”