Wolverines battle 'ol dogs' in post-season tennis tune up; district playoffs Saturday

The Friday Harbor tennis team put a group of mostly elder tennis statesmen through their paces Saturday in tuning up for the Northwest District playoffs.

The Wolverines' No. 1 and No. 2 singles and doubles teams, a total of six players, will go head-to-head against their Coupeville counterparts with a shot at advancing into post-season regional action on the line.

The so-called "ol dogs," typically Lazy-Boy bound on weekends, rose to the occasion and more than held their own Saturday against a vastly younger and better conditioned squad of Wolverines.

Ben Troutman dispatched Friday Harbor's No. 1 singles, senior Peter Duggins, in straight sets, but needed a tie-breaker in the opening set to prevail. Troutman claimed the match 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

In doubles, Jim McNairy and John Sandifer scorched the No. 1 Wolverine doubles team of Josh Lehr and Mike Sandifer, 8-2, but were blistered 8-1 by the No. 2 doubles team of Pablo Lopez and Zach Milkis. Ron Henrickson and Mark Hetrick were swept by both doubles teams, 8-4, and 8-3, respectively.

Honorary 'ol dog Kyle Loring and Wolverines Alex Jangard, Nick Roberts and Brent Sandifer played three sets of mix-and-match doubles, changing partners in three successive sets. Loring and Jangard prevailed over Sandifer and Roberts 6-1; Loring and Sandifer squeaked past Jangard and Roberts 7-6, and Loring and Roberts thumped Jangard and Sandifer 6-2.

The district playoffs get under way Saturday at Coupeville, beginning at 11 a.m.

Contact Journal of the San Juans Editor Scott Rasmussen at srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com or 1-360-378-5696.

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