Central Oregonian

Cowgirls fall to Buffaloes

Crook County wins three of five contested matches, but forfeits three matches in loss

LON AUSTIN/CENTRAL OREGONIAN

Ali Apperson plays a backhand shot earlier this year. Apperson and partner Annie Fraser won their doubles match at Madras 6-0, 6-6 (7-2).

Lon Austin

March 21, 2013

After several years where the Crook County High School girls tennis team was loaded with depth, this year the squad is struggling to field a complete team.

Tuesday, the Cowgirls won three of five contested matches, but forfeited three matches as they fell 5-3 to the Madras White Buffaloes.

“If we are out just one player it’s going to hurt us all the way through the year,” said head coach Lloyd Rodgers. “Madras isn’t bad, they are working on it, and we had to forfeit too many matches.”

Elsa Harris started things off on a positive note winning the No. 1 singles match 6-0, 6-1. Jackie Nelson kept things rolling for the Cowgirls, coming from behind to win her No. 2 singles match 6-4, 6-2.

“She was behind 4-1 in the first set and came back and won,” Rodgers said. “She is really coming along and she’s having fun.”

The Cowgirls’ final win came at No. 1 doubles where Ali Apperson and Annie Fraser took a 6-0, 6-6 (7-2) win.

“They had a little bit of trouble in the second set because they thought it was going to be easy,” Rodgers said.

At No. 3 singles Jordan Rutz fell 6-3, 6-1 in a match that Rodgers said she could have won. In the final contested match of the evening, Katie Slawter and Tiffany Puckett fell 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

The Cowgirls are off until Tuesday, April 2, when they host the Mountain View Cougars in a 4 p.m. match.

Madras 5, Crook County 3

at Madras

Singles — Harris, CC, def. Garcia, M, 6-0, 6-1; Nelson, CC, def. Foristall, M, 6-4, 6-2; Lawrence, M, def. Rutz, CC, 6-3, 6-1; Madras wins by forfeit. Doubles — Apperson/Fraser, CC, def. Carter/Ruiz, M, 6-0, 6-6 (7-2); Romero/Gerrelas, M, def. Slawter/Puckett, CC, 6-3, 6-2; Madras wins twice by forfeit.