Published: October 05, 2008 12:22 am         

Berries face tough regional matchup

Logan seeks 2nd boys tennis regional title in school history

Sometimes sports are all about matchups.

This week’s Peru boys tennis regional will be a prime of example of that. Logansport (17-4) will attempt to improve on its winningest season ever when it faces a Marion squad Tuesday in a regional semifinal that proved to be a difficult matchup for the Berries when the two squads met about a week-and-a-half ago.

The Giants won that match 3-2 to drop the Berries into a three-way tie for second place in the North Central Conference instead of finishing second all alone behind conference champion Richmond.

“It certainly is a tough matchup for us,” Logan coach Matt Tuggle said. “They have two really strong singles players at the top of their lineup that we didn’t compete very well against either one. Our one doubles won in three sets, and our two doubles won in two fairly close sets. Our three singles lost in two close sets [6-4, 6-3].

“It’s going to be a good match and we hope to give it our best shot.”

Tuggle said the Giants feature a freshman at No. 1 singles who is “very solid” and whom defeated Logan’s No. 1 singles player, Evan Clem, 6-0, 6-0 in their regular season match. Marion’s No. 2 singles player played No. 1 singles last year, as did Logan’s No. 2 singles player, Jordan McGuire. Last season their match was very close, but this season the Marion player won 6-1, 6-0.

“I’m not sure if he’s just improved that much or if he just played a tremendous match on that particular day,” Tuggle said of Marion’s No. 2 singles player.

The key for the Berries will be to again sweep the doubles matches and get at least one win in the singles matches.

Twelve-time defending regional champion Kokomo (12-8) will face the Peru Sectional winner in the other regional semifinal Tuesday. The regional final is set for Wednesday.

Logansport defeated Kokomo during the regular season, and Kokomo knocked off Marion. Last season Kokomo defeated Logansport 4-1 in the regional final. Logan advanced to the final with a 4-1 win over Jay County.

When Logansport defeated Cass 3-2 Friday for its third consecutive sectional championship, the Berries broke the school record for wins in a season with their 17th win. The 1990 and 1968 teams both garnered 16-win seasons. The Berries won their fifth sectional title since the IHSAA began holding a boys tennis tournament in 1967 — the others being in 1990, 1992, 2006 and 2007. Logan won its lone regional title in 1992. LHS won North Central Conference titles in 1934 and 1957.

Logansport’s tournament lineup includes juniors Clem, McGuire and No. 3 singles player Alex Miracle. At No. 1 doubles are senior Robbie Stewart and junior Andrew Rowe, and at No. 2 doubles are junior Jake McCord and sophomore Rick Brink.

Beau Wicker can be contacted at (574) 732-5113 or via e-mail at beau.wicker@pharostribune.com