Published: May 21, 2008 12:39 am         

Berries top Kokomo, advance to regional final

Bullard just misses another trip to state finals.

The Logansport girls tennis team defeated Kokomo 4-1 Tuesday at the Peru Regional to advance to the regional final.

The Lady Berries (16-3) face Marion (16-1), won defeated Northfield 4-1 Tuesday, for the regional championship tonight at 4:45 p.m.

For the Berries, Megan Whitcomb won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, Lauren Zehner won 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 at No. 2 singles and Maggie Brown was defeated 1-6, 3-6 at No. 3 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, Ryane James and Lindsay Rich won 6-0, 6-3 and at No. 2 doubles, Rachel Geer and Megan Rozzi 6-2, 6-1.

“We played well at all five spots tonight,” Logan coach Matt Tuggle said. “I was proud of how we competed and played hard in every match. Over the last couple of weeks, we hadn't played our best tennis. We had some inconsistent matches and weren't quite as sharp as we expect ourselves to be. Tonight, we were much more consistent and focused.”

In the Berries’ lone dropped point of the night at No. 3 singles, Tuggle said Kokomo’s Alex Beechy “played extremely good tennis and came out right away hitting a lot of winners.” After losing the first set and being down 0-4 in the second, Brown responded winning the next three games to close to 3-4 but Beechy closed out the match winning the next two games.

"I was happy with Maggie's focus on tennis and concentration on playing the next point instead of previous points,” Tuggle said. “It was great for her to come back the way she did in the second set. She has nothing to feel bad about from that match."

Logansport’s 16th win of the season ties a school record for wins in a season set in 2006.

The Berries were defeated by regional final opponent 3-2 during their regular-season match.

“Our first match with Marion was close,” Tuggle said. “We expect that same type of match again. They are strong at all five spots. We hope to compete with them and find a way to get three matches. They're very good.”

Girls Track

Bremen Regional

Logansport senior Brittany Bullard placed fourth in the pole vault, missing her third trip to the state finals in the event by one place.

Bullard tied third-place finisher Jade Bobeck of Fairfield with a vault of 9’9” but placed fourth on number of misses.

“She missed on one of her earlier tries at 9-foot and that ended up costing her,” Logansport coach Randy Kuhn said of the defending regional champion. “They both went out at 10-feet.”

“Sometimes those things happen. That’s why we go compete,” the Logan coach added. “She did beat the girl that beat her last week.

“Down the road she has a chance to advance to the state finals because they have 27 invites and there are eight regionals and 24 athletes automatically advancing.”

Also for the Berries, Baleigh Deitrich finished seventh in the 300 hurdles and Glorisel Cruz was 12 in the 800. Logan’s 3200 relay team placed 10th and the 1600 relay team finished 14th.

Pioneer’s Cady Caudle placed 12th in the 3200 and the Panthers’ 3200 relay team finished 13th.

Sports editor Beau Wicker compiled this roundup.