Titans slay Dragons

By Robert Taylor

The NOHS boys and girls tennis teams downed Jefferson High School on Thursday and improved to 2-0 in Region 8-AA play.

The Lady Titans, now 5-0 overall, blanked the Lady Dragons at all five positions at the North Oconee tennis courts.  In singles play, Becca Bruning downed Taylor Bost at No. 1 6-0, 6-0; Amber Hudson beat Abi Muesse at No. 2 6-1, 6-0, and freshman Mary Campbell Cobb won at No. 3 6-1, 6-1 over Olivia Yates.  In doubles Alex Barone and Abby Bruning teamed up for a 6-0, 7-6 victory over Chelsea Runkel and Amanda Burgamy at No. 1, and the No. 2 tandem of Cammi Shaffer and Lana Livesay handled Grace Main and Charley Beatty 6-1, 6-2.

The Titan boys improved their overall record to 4-1, winning at all five positions.  At No. 1 singles Peter Bertran won a hard-fought, three-set battle over senior Zach Bost 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.  At No. 2 Ray Donovan outlasted Gage Thompson 7-6, 6-3, and Seth Taylor won at No. 3 over Nathaniel Trawick 6-0, 6-0.  At No. 1 doubles Stevie Hemerlein and Jeff Bautista took care of business 6-2, 6-1 over Jordan Tyler and Jackson Howard, and at No. 2 senior Kerry Nozum and Chris Saucier prevailed over Austin Pratt and Brandon Clabo 6-4, 7-6.

Next week the Titans hit the road on Tuesday and Wednesday for matches against Hart County and Mill Creek.  On Thursday North Oconee will host Grayson at 4 p.m.