Rams take duals

ARTESIA — The Portales High tennis teams got a big boost in the District 4-4A tennis standings Thursday, as both teams took road duals at Artesia.

The girls cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Bulldogs, while the Ram boys took a 5-4 win.

Juniors Pancho Lopez and Drake Long both had 2-0 days for the Portales boys, who evened their district record to 1-1. Lopez fought off an opening-set loss to top Tomas Gonzales 3-6, 6-3, 7-2 in No. 1 singles, then teamed up with Zeke Aguirre to sweep Gonzales and Zain Burns 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 1 singles flight.

Long defeated Lalo Samaniego 6-0, 6-0 in No. 3 singles, with those sets the only blankings recorded by any player on the day. He and Brett Horton topped Samaniego and David Anaya 6-3, 6-4 in No. 2 singles.

The Portales girls largely dominated, though two victories did go to third sets. In each case, the Portales player fought back after losing the first game.

Laura Blaeser fell 6-4 to Dominique Sanchez in No. 2 singles, but won 12 of the next 16 games for the victory. Mikaela Garza went back and forth with Paola Vasquez in No. 5 singles, eventually winning 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Andrea Alvarez notched the lone victory for Artesia, topping Kinsey Bilberry 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 singles.

Portales won all three doubles flights in straight sets.

Saturday saw somewhat of a role reversal, with the Portales boys taking a 7-2 victory and the girls grabbing a 5-4 victory.

Lopez, Long and Horton all went 2-0 on the day, and Portales claimed all three of the doubles flights. Maurice Murillo and Isaiah Smith won in singles for Palo Duro.

In girls action, Vanessa Lucero and Blaeser went 2-0 on the afternoon. Lucero defeated Lu Dee in No. 6 singles, and teamed up with Garza to take No. 3 doubles. The Rams won all three doubles matches, a key to victory with Palo Duro dominating the singles matches.

Portales is back in action 3 p.m. Tuesday at home against Goddard, thentravel Friday to the two-day Hobbs Invite.