Pirate Ladies Tennis
The Lady Pirate Tennis Team defeated rivals Ray-Pec Oct. 4 in the first round of the District Team Tournament, eliminating the Panthers from team competition. Earlier, in the regular season, Belton fell to a short-handed Ray-Pec team in a very close match on Belton's home courts.
With the team tied 3-3 after singles victories from Sophomore Lauren Cook, Junior Taylor Lind and Senior Emily Newcomer, the ladies had to win two of the three doubles matches. After Senior Megan Ford and Lauren Cook lost a hard-fought doubles match against Ray-Pec's number 1 doubles team 4-6, 4-6, the Pirates were down 3-4, and had their backs against the wall.
Turning in their best performances of the season, Lind and Junior Courtney Clear defeated their opponents from Ray-Pec in three sets (6-2, 0-6, 6-2). That meant Newcomer and Senior Erin Kauser had to win to for Belton to advance. The seniors dominated the first set 6-2, then got creamed in the second, 0-6. After trading games at the beginning, Newcomer and Kauser rallied to upset the higher-ranked Ray-Pec, 6-3, and gave Belton Ladies tennis their first team victory over the Panthers in at least five years.
