HIBBING—There was only one day between court appearances for the Hibbing High School boys tennis team, but Bluejacket coach Gary Conda had already noticed some improvements.
After placing fourth in the Hibbing Invite Saturday, the Bluejackets got some critical playing time and hit hundreds of shots, which is important on getting better.
That showed Monday when Hibbing defeated Cloquet 4-3 at the Lincoln Elementary School Courts.
The Bluejacketes got three singles wins and one doubles win in the victory over the Lumberjacks.
More importantly, Conda could see a noticeable change in his teams’ play between events.
“I could tell that because we got to hit a lot of balls over the weekend,” Conda said. “You could see a lot of improvement from a majority of the kids. It tells you something. When you get to play a lot of matches, you hit a lot of balls.
“In turn, you get better.”
More specifically, Conda noticed a difference in his doubles play.
“In doubles, everybody played better positioning,” Conda said. “They put a lot of balls away. I know we lost two-of-the-three, but it was right down to the bitter end. It was a big improvement.”
Winning in doubles was the tandem of Rex Walli and Whitaker Rewertz, who beat Marco Zegan and Wesley Olson, 6-2, 6-1 at third doubles.
In the other matches, Ethan Doty and Max Sundquist beat Tyler Fisher and Joey Gabardi 6-1. 7-6 (7-5) at first doubles, and Noah Bender and Joey Bender beat Benny Galli and Brady Fosso 4-6, 6-2, 10-5 in a super tiebreaker at second doubles.
“All three of our doubles teams are close,” Conda said. “That’s kind of how it should be. I think they’re like three second doubles teams at the moment. Our third doubles, whoever I put there, they’re going to be successful.
“It was even all of the way through. They did learn some things. I think we’re going to be a lot tougher the next time we play a match.”
In singles, Cooper Hendrickson beat Devin Cary, 6-0, 6-0; Jack Gabardi downed Tommy Radosevich, 6-1, 6-1; and Keaton Petrick beat Sam Painter, 6-1, 6-2.
“They played steadily,” Conda said. “They didn’t have to do a lot, but they have to continue working on jumping on short balls, being more offensive and closing out volleys.
“Cooper was actually starting to get a lot more depth on his approach shots, and slicing it. That’s helping him.”
Conda was especially impressed with Petrick, who has played mostly doubles in his young career.
“He seems to be mentally better in a singles spot,” Conda said. “In singles, he holds it together a lot better. He’s tough to beat there. He had a big serve, so he can win from free points with that.
“Every once in a while, he’ll crack that forehand. He’s going to win a lot of matches at fourth singles.”
At first singles, Isaiah Hildenbrand fell to Ethan Lavan by the scores of 6-1, 6-1.
“Isaiah had a tough match,” Conda said. “I thought he competed well, but we’re trying a few things. One, two and three are equal in their place, so we’re moving them around a little bit.
“Eventually, I’ll have to make a decision as to who’s going to play No. 1 at the end. You could see that we had more depth at two, three and four singles than them. They didn’t let up.”
Hibbing hosted Duluth East Tuesday.
Hibbing 4, Cloquet 3
Singles: No. 1—Ethan Lavan, C, def. Isaiah Hildenbrand, 6-1, 6-1; No. 2—Cooper Hendrickson, H, def. Devin Cary, 6-0, 6-0; No. 3—Jack Gabardi, H, def. Tommy Radosevich, 6-1, 6-1; No. 4—Keaton Petrick, H, def. Sam Painter, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles: No. 1—Ethan Doty-Max Sundquist, C, def. Joey Gabardi-Tyler Fisher, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5); No. 2—Noah Bender-Joey Bender, C, def. Brady Fosso-Benny Galli, 4-6. 6-2. 10-5; No. 3—Whitaker Rewertz-Rex Walli, H, def. Marco Zegan-Wesley Olson, 6-2. 6-1.
Baseball
Cherry 8,
Mountain Iron-Buhl 4
CHERRY—The Tigers got six-hit pitching from Isaiah Asuma and Isaac Asuma en route to the victory over the Broncos at home Monday.
Isaiah Asuma allowed those six hits over 6 ⅔ innings. He struck out 10. Isaac Asuma tossed 1/’3 of an inning, walking one.
Damian Tapio started for Mountain Iron-Buhl, working three innings, allowing five hits, striking out five and walking one. TJ Duchamp worked three innings, giving up four hits. He fanned two and walked one.
Noah Asuma had two hits for Cherry. Carson Brown, Mason Heitzman and Noah Sundquist all hit doubles. Andrew Staples hit a home run.
Johnson and Niska both hit doubles for the Rangers.
Cherry 16,
Hayfield 5
HAYFIELD—The Tigers pounded out 19 hits en route to the win over the Vikings last Friday.
Noah Asuma and Mason Heitzman both had four hits for Cherry. Heitzman had a double and home run and two RBI. Noah Asuma had three hits, with two doubles.
Ian Kimmes had three hits as did Isaac Asuma, who had a triple and three RBI. Isaiah Asuma had two hits and three RBI, and Sundquist hit a triple and had two RBI.
Noah Asuma got the pitching win, tossing six innings of eight-hit ball. He struck out five and walked one. Isaiah Asuma worked one inning, allowing three hits and striking out one.
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