Beeters, Ponies dual in the sun

On a bright and sunny afternoon at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts, two powerful girls tennis programs got together. And after more than 20 matches between the Chinook Sugarbeeters and Havre Blue Ponies, both teams accomplished what they set out to do.

"We played a ton of tennis in a pretty short amount of time," HHS head coach George Ferguson said. "It's good to just get out and give the kids matches and let them gain experience, and I thought both sides gained a lot of experience on Tuesday."

Chinook won the majority of the matches, with the doubles tandem of Sierra Swank and Megan Pruttis leading the way. Both are returning All-State players from the Beeters' three-peat state championship of a season ago. Nicole McCracken and Jamie Roth, two more standouts for the Beeters also went unbeaten in singles.

"Chinook is very strong again this season," Ferguson said. "(Coach) Thom MacLean and I started coaching the same year, and I just have so much respect for what he always does with his program. He has some outstanding players again this season, and I think they're (Beeters) going to be a force in Class B-C again. I would not be surprised if they're holding that big trophy at the end of the season, again."

On the flip side, the Blue Ponies are a young team, still growing, and Ferguson said he saw plenty of growth from his players Tuesday. Havre got wins in doubles by Katie and Alex Donaldson, Megan Lindbloom and Baylee Miller and Tiffany Ralph and Cassidy Compton, as well as singles victories from Cassidy Acor and Bryn Nault, among others.

"I said it last week, and I'll say it again, every time our girls go out there, they get better," Ferguson said. "I thought, as a whole, we played good tennis on Tuesday, and I saw plenty of instances where kids had already made adjustments and improved just from three days ago in Cut Bank. The upper part of our lineup also got really good competition from the Chinook girls, and that will only make them better down the road. So in wins and losses, our kids should be proud of the way they played on Tuesday. I know myself and coach (Kendall) Griggs are very proud of the way they played against a really good Chinook team."

Chinook is indeed out to defend its 2016 Class B-C state championship, and the Beeters are halfway through their season. The Beeters are back in action this weekend at the Fort Benton Invitational, and they'll be back in Havre to host the Northern B-C Divisional May 11-12, before heading to Missoula for the B-C state tournament May 18-20.

The Havre High tennis teams are right back on the courts this Saturday at the Central A Preview Meet in Lewistown.

Chinook vs Havre Girls

Singles

Nicole McCracken, CHI def. Paige Nelson, HAV, 8-2; Jamie Roth, CHI def. Kadyn Acor, HAV, 8-7 (2); Bailey Zumbrun, CHI def. McKenzie Tommerup, HAV, 8-5; Cassidy Acor, HAV def. Mackenzie Gruszie, CHI, 8-0; Nicole McCracken, CHI def. Teagan Fee, HAV, 8-0; Carsyn Vogel, HAV def. Mackenzie Gruszie, CHI, 8-3; Jamie Roth, CHI def. Angela Rhines, HAV, 8-0; Bailey Zumbrun, CHI def. Brun Nault, HAV, 8-7 (4); Nicole McCracken, CHI def. Kadyn Acor, HAV, 6-2; Cassidy Acor, HAV def. Bailey Zumbrun, 6-0; Jamie Roth, CHI def. Teagan Fee, HAV, 6-0; Megan Pruttis, CHI def. Paige Nelson, HAV, 8-2; Sierra Swank, CHI def. Mckenzie Tommerup, HAV, 6-1; Whitney Doney, CHI def. Carsyn Vogel, HAV, 6-2; Bryn Nault, HAV def. Lisa Hwang, CHI, 6-5 (3).

Doubles

Sierra Swank/Megan Pruttis, CHI def. Devyn Solomon/Marcee Murphy, HAV, 8-1; Alex Donaldson/Katie Donaldson, HAV def. Lisa Hwang/Whitney Doney, CHI, 8-3; Sierra Swank/Megan Pruttis, CHI def. Baylee Miller/Megan Lindbloom, HAV, 8-1; Tiffany Ralph/Cassidy Compton, HAV def. Lisa Hwang/Whitney Doney, CHI, 6-3; Sierra Swank/Megan Pruttis, CHI def. Alex Donaldson/Katie Donaldson, HAV, 8-0; Jamie Roth/Nicole McCracken, CHI def. Marcee Murphy/Devyn Solomon, HAV, 6-2; Megan Lindbloom/Baylee Miller, HAV def. Lisa Hwang/Whitney Doney, CHI, 6-0.