LaFayette tennis teams knocked out in opening round of state

The LaFayette Ramblers’ stint in the Class AAAA state tennis tournament turned out to be a short one as the Orange-and-Black were handled by Region 8 runner-up Jefferson, 5-0, during a match in Jefferson last Tuesday.

In singles, Marcus Beringer beat Jarrod Sitton, 6-1, 6-0. Caden Mantooth took down Noah Matthews, 6-0, 6-0, while Blake Lathrop defeated Brad Templeton by a 6-0, 6-0 count.

In doubles, the Dragons’ No. 1 team of Caleb Tyler and Caleb Wells beat Aaron Asbeury and Dillon Hughes, 6-0, 6-0, and the duo of Cooper Kewerk and Del Jakins took out Isaiah Southern and Andrew Long, 6-1, 6-1.

One day after the LaFayette boys’ tennis team was ousted from the state tournament, the Lady Ramblers suffered a similar fate at home as Oconee County, the No. 3 seed from Region 8, swept the singles matches and moved on with a 3-0 victory.

Claire Lacksen defeated Madison Denny at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-1. Julia Hardell dispatched Asberri Freeman at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-2, and Miranda Gomez-Puche beat Rachel Wallin at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-3, to end the season for the Orange-and-Black.

Both doubles match were split at one set each went the match were halted following the clinching victory.

Madison Harris and Hannah Durham lost the first set to Sara Catherine Pennell and Alexis Anderson, 6-4, but bounced back to win the second set of No. 1 doubles, 6-3.

At No. 2 doubles, S.J. Oxford and Ida Scoggins fell to in the first set to Lexie Houston and Lainey Grace Frutiger, 6-2, but rallied to win the second set, 6-3.

The Gordon Lee boys, the only Walker County team still in the state tennis tournament, will open the Class A Public School playoffs at Baconton Charter on Tuesday.