Falcons Trim Bruins 3-2 In Sectional Preview

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

By Tony Miller, Bleeding Bruin Blue

Bethany coach Matt Miller advises the #1 doubles team of Kyle Miller and Matt Ebersole during their match. (Tony Miller/Bleeding Bruin Blue)

GOSHEN — The Fairfield Falcons came to Bethany Monday afternoon to take on the Bruins in the midst of senior recognition night, Student Body Association tailgating, and the largest crowd this reporter has ever seen at a regular-season match.
Friday evening, the Falcons returned home victorious over the team that figures to be their chief sectional competition by a 3-2 margin.
Fairfield led from the match's opening games, as they broke service in the first game at both number-one positions and held it at #2 doubles and #3 singles. With the Bruins going up 1-0 on their own serve at #2 doubles, the leaders in doubles were established and would remain. From that point forward, neither lead changed hands as Fairfield won 6-0, 6-1 at the first position while Bethany won 6-1, 6-1 at the second.
Number-two singles was nearly as simple after that, as Seth Krabill reeled off the next five games to take a 5-1 lead. The second set featured another five-game run, this time with three breaks, and Krabill finished off Fairfield's Josh Mullet 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and two minutes.
As the clock proverbially struck a quarter to six, Bethany appeared to be in good shape; they led the match two points to one and were within a break of forcing third sets in both remaining matches. But faster than that advantage was gained, it disappeared. Ben Mast dropped two games on his own serve to Wyatt Stutzman, who held his own twice; at number-three singles, that break never came as Nate Brendle fell to Malachi Randolph. At 5:45, Bethany led. By 5:50, they were tied but still alive. Nine minutes after they were first within a point of the team match, the Bruins had tallied their second loss of the season against 12 wins. Fairfield raised its record to 16-1 with a perfect 8-0 mark in the Northeast Corner Conference. Entering this match, both teams' only loss had been to Columbia City, rated the sixth-best team in northeast Indiana by the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association.
The possibility remains that these two schools will meet again, as they will join NorthWood, Jimtown and host Goshen for sectional play in ten days' time. The draw will be made Monday evening, Sept. 27, with the play-in game that Thursday and the semifinals and finals two days later.
Fairfield won the JV match 8-1. The doubles team of Parth Patel and Joel Gerig picked up Bethany's point.
(Box score)

Andrew Snyder serves during the JV #1 doubles match. (Tony Miller/Bleeding Bruin Blue)