Clayton News Daily

From staff reports

The 23rd-ranked Clayton College & State University women's tennis team picked up its biggest win of the season Wednesday, cruising to a 7-2 victory over Berry College, a team ranked in the top-10 at the NAIA level.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 8-4 on the season, while Berry, the nation's 10th ranked team in NAIA, drops to 10-5 on the year. Clayton State will return to action on Thursday against another nationally ranked team, hosting ninth-ranked and PBC rival the University of North Florida. The match, rescheduled from Tuesday due to rain, will begin at 1 p.m.

In singles Wednesday, freshman Julia Gandia, the nation's ninth-ranked player, defeated Berry's Kristin Hunter 6-2 and 6-3. Hunter entered the match as the seventh-ranked player in NAIA.

The match of the day was at No. 2 singles as 44th-ranked freshman Julia Chergova defeated Berry's Patricia Llaguno, the 30th-ranked player. Chergova prevailed 10-8 in a super tiebreaker after winning the first set 6-2 and falling in the second set 6-4.

Third-seeded freshman Elana Bondari defeated Berry's Marine Eberhardt after she had to retire due to an injury. Bondari was leading 5-2 in the match. Fifth-seeded sophomore Daniela Petkova won 7-5 and 6-1 over Susannah Cook, while Clayton State freshman Velina Boteva won 6-2 and 6-2 over Valentine Eberhardt.

Sophomore Katrin Gutknecht dropped the only match in singles for the Lakers, falling 6-4 and 6-4 to Berry's Marcela Velez.

In doubles, the top-seeded Clayton State team of Gandia and Chergova won 8-3 over Hunter and Llaguno, the fourth-ranked doubles team in NAIA. The third seed of Bondari Gutknecht won 8-3 over Cook and V. Eberhardt, while the Laker team of Petkova and Boteva lost 8-2 at the second seed, falling to M. Eberhardt and Valez.

Panthers claw South Atlanta for region win

Forest Park opened Region 5-AAAA play Wednesday with amn 11-5 victory over South Atlanta.

Isaiah Froneberger (2-0) was the winning pitcher and he also went 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI.

Keith Gains recorded the save and was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Other offensive leaders were Antonio Kendrick (1-for-2, two RBIs), Cody Garner (2-for-5, two RBIs), Greg Ramsey (one RBI), Tony Peaks (3-for-4), Cordaryl Kendrick (2-for-3) and Victor Becerra (1-for-2).

Forest Park improves its overall record to 4-3