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Portales girls second, boys fourth in district tennis

Six Rams will go to individual and doubles state tournament

ALBUQUERQUE - Both Portales tennis teams are crossing their fingers with hopes they'll get an at-large bid into the state tennis championship bracket. The boys' fingers might be cross a little tighter.

The Ram girls are figuring they'll be in, having taken second in District 3/4 of Class 1A-4A competition Saturday. Portales blanked Silver 5-0, but fell to Mesilla Valley for the district championship.

The boys, meanwhile, finished fourth with a 5-1 loss to Hope Christian.

Portales coach Ann-Marie Bucksath said there are only three districts in 1A-4A, meaning there are five at-large bids to be awarded for the team championships Friday and Saturday across Albuquerque.

However, individual and doubles participants are already known for Wednesday and Thursday. Portales will bring six players in total - two singles players and two doubles teams.

The top four finishers in singles and doubles from district each receive a berth to state.

Girls singles was an all-Portales final, with Sarah Blaeser topping Zamorye Cox. Both had first-round byes, and Blaeser swept her way into the finals before topping Cox 6-4, 6-1.

"It was a good battle," Bucksath said. "They fought. It was a good practice round for next week."

Kelly Fraze and Kinsey Bilberry finished third in doubles. They fell to eventual bracket champions Jacey Coyle and Jordan Franzoy of Mesilla Valley.

Gerardo Calderon and Javier Gutierrez will advance after taking fourth in boys doubles, while Julian Tellez fell in the second round of singles play.

"I think we have a great chance," Bucksath said ahead of Sunday's seeding. "The girls did very well, and the boys came along. Hopefully, the rest of the boys get in."

 
 
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