Bay Port’s Ben Bruen returns a shot at No. 3 doubles April 24 (Rich Palzewic photo).
BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT
SUAMICO – The Bay Port boys’ tennis team finally got to host a match April 24 at the high-school courts, but unfortunately the De Pere Redbirds spoiled the party.
Led by one of the best players in the state in Nathan Balthazor, the Redbirds dispatched of the Pirates 6-1 on a cold, blustery night in Fox River Classic Conference action.
Snowstorm Evelyn dropped 24 inches of snow last week, so three of the courts at the facility were not playable yet due to snow remaining on the playing surface.
Bay Port’s Max Schauer couldn’t keep up with the hard-hitting Balthazor at No. 1 singles in dropping a 6-0, 6-0 match. As Bay Port co-coach Steve Matuszewski pointed out a few weeks ago, “Balthazor should be in contention for a WIAA D1 state championship this season.”
The only real highlight for the Pirates came at No. 1 doubles where the duo of Eric Stratman/Aaron Murphy won a 6-1, 6-4 contest over David Vandenberg/Jackson Butrym for the lone win of the night for Bay Port.
Other results were as follows: No. 2 singles – Warren Mangum (DP) def. David Ceaglske (BP), 6-3, 6-1; No. 3 singles – Calvin Hunt (DP) def. Hudson Menne (BP), 6-0, 6-3; No. 4 singles – Tyler Graf (DP) def. Tim Daughtry (BP), 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 doubles – Matthew Foeller/Sam Champeau (DP) def. Brett Fuglestad/Travis Van De Yacht, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4; No. 3 doubles – Anthony Belleau/Brady Hubbard (DP) def. Ben Bruen/Thomas Olson (BP), 6-4, 6-2.