Westfield’s superior team depth proved too difficult to overcome on Wednesday night as the Shamrocks downed Delta 4-1 in the finals of the Noblesville Regional.
The silver lining for the Eagles was the No. 1 doubles team of Kelsey Vest and Katie Manor, who dominated their Westfield opponents 6-0, 6-1 to advance individually in the postseason tournament.
Vest and Manor, now 23-3, will return to Noblesville for a match against the host Millers at 4:45 p.m. today (Thursday) for the right to advance to the individual regional on Saturday, June 1.
One of Vest/Manor’s three losses this season came to Westfield on the first weekend of the season. Although the matchup was not exactly the same, Westfield’s best doubles player, Jenna Berry, was still a part of the No. 1 doubles team for the rematch. But this time Vest/Manor won the first 11 games before the Shamrocks finally got on the board late in the match.
The latest victory was the 50th career varsity win for Vest, who is a junior. Manor, a sophomore, now has 47 career varsity wins in just two seasons.
At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Rowan Hinds and freshman Alexa Bratton also came out hot, building a 3-0 lead over a strong Westfield team. But the consistent strokes of the Shamrocks eventually took a toll as Hinds and Bratton lost, 4-6, 1-6. The season ends with a 20-6 record for Hinds and Bratton.
Hinds now has back-to-back seasons of 20+ wins as she and Kelsey Vest won 22 matches at No. 2 doubles a year ago.
In singles, the Eagles produced some flashes of excellent play but were unable to piece together enough sustained excellence to put a dent in the Shamrocks’ experienced singles lineup.
Senior Gabby Knight lost 0-6, 0-6 to All-State senior Isabella Norris. Knight finishes her final season with a 19-7 record and 67 career varsity victories and will compete in the North-South All-Star match on June 9.
Junior Brylee Beckley and sophomore Elizabeth Bamidele lost 2-6, 2-6 at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Beckley finishes with a 17-5 record (and has 47 career varsity wins) while Bamidele ends her first season of full-time varsity action at 16-9.
The Eagles return all varsity players except Knight and also return sophomore Olivia Marshall, who earned a varsity letter in singles. Another varsity contender, sophomore Stella Sieber, who missed the season with a shoulder injury, will be back for next season. In addition, sophomore Tru Swoboda won 17 JV matches in singles, and sophomores Marley Dowling and Anna Marcum were the top JV doubles team. Several other promising sophomores, freshmen and eighth-graders should help the Eagles build upon their winning tradition next season.
In addition to the 18-5 record, the #20 state ranking, and the 13th straight sectional title, the Eagles also raised a record total of $22,000 for SmashCancer and honored 25+ teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day. The program also recognized 26 players with Aim High! character development t-shirts. The varsity also is likely to receive Team Academic All-State recognition.
Now, let’s get behind Kelsey and Katie and see if they can make a run to the state doubles finals!
DELTA 1, WESTFIELD 4
Varsity Singles
- Gabby Knight (D) lost to Isabella Norris (W), 0-6, 0-6
- Brylee Beckley (D) lost to Juliet Grilliot (W), 2-6, 2-6
- Elizabeth Bamidele (D) lost to Addy Koii (W), 2-6, 2-6
Varsity Doubles
- Kelsey Vest/Katie Manor (D) def. Jenna Berry/Bella Rivera (W(, 6-0, 6-1
- Rowan Hinds/Alexa Bratton (D), lost to Carly Lukowiak/Bri Saylor (W), 4-6, 1-6