BEARVILLE — Pierce County’s top-seed and defending Class 2A champion Bears’ tennis team clinched their second consecutive “Final Four” appearance, beating ninth-seed Sumter County 5-0 Thursday.
The Class 2A defending champion Bears (21-2), appearing in their fourth consecutive “Elite 8”, knocked off 17th-seed regionmate Tattnall County 5-0 Tuesday, April 28. PCHS improved to 12-2 all-time in second round matchups.
Pierce County’s victory over Sumter County in the quarterfinals was their second straight in the round improving to 3-9 all-time. The Panthers reached the third round with wins over 24th-seed Callaway and 25th-seed Franklin County.
PCHS ended a sevenmatch losing streak in the “Elite 8” last year, beating region foe Appling County en route to the state title.
The Bears hosted fourth-seed Morgan County Tuesday, May 5 in the semifinals. PCHS is 11 in the semis with a 2014 loss to Woodward Academy and a victory last year over Sonoraville.
No. 1 Bears...............5
No. 17 Tattnall Co.....0
PCHS overpowered the Warriors in sweeping the three singles matches, losing just three games.
J.C. Nimmer recorded a 6-1, 6-0 win over Hampton Brown at No. 1, Jeb Bradley downed Layton Knight 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 with Aaden Carlson winning by the identical score of Eli Anderson at No. 3.
The No. 1 doubles team of Kellan Roberts and Colby Coates notched a 62, 6-2 victory over Ian Cowart and Micah Davis. The No. 2 tandem of Greyson Rodgers and Thomas Lucas bested Andrew Poole and Dunham Rogers 6-1, 6-1.
No. 1 Bears ..............5 No. 9 Sumter Co. .....0
Pierce County followed with a dominating performance against the Panthers.
Nimmer posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 1 over Eric Bryant. Bradley rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Dylan Amin. Carlson notched a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Caimen Williams at No. 3.
The Roberts-Coates No. 1 doubles tandem eased to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Devor Pina and Caleb Wright. The No. 2 duo of Rodgers and Lucas blanked Joshua Wright and Logan Avrett 6-0, 6-0.
