W.F. West continued its run of dominance in the 2A Evergreen Conference, taking down Shelton 4-2 at home Monday to extend its win streak to seven games.
The Bearcats are now 7-0 and hold a two-match lead over second-place Shelton in the league standing, with three regular-season matches to go.
In No. 1 singles Monday, Shelton’s Brandon Wagner defeated W.F. West freshman Justin Chung, 6-2, 6-3.
“Justin hasn’t played very many matches. He’s learning,” W.F. West coach Jack State said. “This is the best kid he’s played. He got beat by a kid with more experience.”
In No. 2 singles, Justin’s older brother, Joseph Chung, defeated Shelton’s Cal Ruiz 6-0, 6-0, where Chung didn’t lose a single point in the first set.
“That’s really hard to do,” State said.
In No. 3 singles, W.F. West’s Aaron Boggess defeated Daniel Alvarez 6-0. 6-1.
On the doubles, side, W.F. West’s Cade Cameron and Jacob Blomdahl defeated Jayden Lovingfoss and Wade Wagner 6-1, 6-2. In No. 2 doubles, Nate Dahlin and Gabe Cuestas, who returned after a three-week absence due to a shin splint injury, defeated Shelton’s Corbin Kree and Sean McCullough 6-1, 6-2. And in No. 3 doubles, Shelton’s Josh Brennan and Brady Walsh defeated W.F. West’s Andrew Boggess and Hans Meyer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
A culminating postseason tournament is tentatively set for 10 a.m. on Monday, March 15, at Centralia High School. For now, the Bearcats will look to secure the league title with a victory at Black Hills on Tuesday.
“This is the strongest team, from top to bottom, I’ve ever had,” State said. “May not be the best, but it’s the strongest from top to bottom.”
Tumwater proved too strong for a Centralia team traveling north as the Tigers fell 5-1 on the road Monday. The Tigers lost their second straight match and drop to 2-4 overall.
In No. 1 singles, Centralia’s Landon Kaut lost to Sawyer Lougheed 1-6, 4-6. In No. 2 singles, Centralia’s Brandon Yeung won the Tigers only match, defeating Drew Johnson 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
“This was Brandon’s first tiebreaker this season,” Centralia coach Deb Keahey said. “He’s had a really good year.”
In No. 3 singles, Tumwater’s Pierce Yates defeated Centralia’s Ryan Kane 6-0, 6-1. On the doubles side, Centralia’s Connor O’Dell and Isaac Parkins lost to Tumwater’s No. 1 singles team 1-6, 1-6. Centralia’s Justin Kuykendall and David Parsons lost to Tumwater’s No. 2 singles team and the Tigers were forced to forfeit No. 3 doubles.
“It’s the second half of the season and everybody’s getting better,” Keahey said. “It was an overall good match. We’re getting our matches in.”
Centralia will look to get back on track when it travels to Aberdeen on Tuesday.
