By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
J.H. Rose’s depth and experience was too much for the Pam Pack tennis team to overcome as Washington fell 8-1 to the Rampants on Thursday at Washington High School.
Washington lost five out of its top six players last season, thrusting last year’s sixth seed Archie Griffin into the number one spot this spring.
So far this season the Pam Pack (3-2) has done a good job rising up to the challenge of playing with a green squad, but on Thursday its was overmatched by the Rampants.
The Rampants’ No. 1 seed Thomas Keen led the charge as he topped Archie Griffin 6-0, 6-3, and also teamed up with Josh Bryant to beat Joshua Elks and Gray Stowe in doubles play.
With good height and quickness, Keen presented a tough challenge for the Pam Pack’s No. 1 seed. However, Elks said that Griffin’s loss to Keen should serve as a learning experience.
After the match, Griffin credited his opponent, while also admitting to making a couple of errors.
Griffin said that Keen’s height and length was a factor.
Griffin is 2-2 on the season, and said that the transition from being a sixth seed last year to a No. 1 seed this season has been tough.
Washington’s No. 2 seed Robert Dail fell 6-4, 6-2 to Jacob Hofstetler, while Joshua Elks (No, 3 seed) lost 6-4, 6-2 to Chris Mathews. J.H. Rose’s Austin Michels won the battle of the four seeds, as he beat Matt Bachelor 6-2, 6-3.
Washington junior Gray Stowe (No. 5 seed) picked up the Pack’s lone win, as he beat Bryant 6-4, 6-0.
Washington’s No. 6 seed Brandon Niederhauser lost the final singles match 6-2, 6-2.
Washington didn’t fair much better in doubles play, as Griffin and Dail fell 8-3 to Hofstetler and Mathews, while Bachelor and Niederhauser lost 8-4 to Michels and Michael Gray.
Washington will be back in action on Tuesday, when it plays at New Bern.
J.H. ROSE 8, WASHINGTON 1
SINGLES
Thomas Keen (R) d. Archie Griffin (W), 6-0, 6-3; Jacob Hofstetler (R) d. Robert Dail (W), 6-4, 6-2; Chris Mathews (R) d. Joshua Elks (W), 6-4, 6-2; Austin Michels (R) d. Matt Bachelor 6-2, 6-3; Gray Stowe (W) d. Josh Bryant (R), 6-4, 6-0; Hank Stephenson (R) d. Brandon Niederhauser 6-2, 6-2.
DOUBLES
Hoftstetler/Mathews (R) d. Griffin/Dail (W), 8-3; Keen/Bryant (R) d. Elks/Stowe (W), 8-2; Michels Gray (R) d. Bachelor/Niederhauser (W), 8-4.
EXHIBITION MATCHES
Tim Edwards(R) def. Josh Carter 8-4; Brian Barsanti(R) def. Zach Ware 8-5; Ed Farley(R) def. Lea Rodriguez 8-2; Jake Roeser(R) def. Colin Daw 8-0; Roeser/Barsanti(R) def. Brandon Washington/Jeff Swanner 8-1; Edwards/Farley(R) def. Casey O’Brien/Will Davis 8-3.