The Press-Dispatch
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C-6 Wednesday, March 30, 2022 The Press-Dispatch 3.5" x 2.5" | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt MKT-5894M-A > edwardjones.com We support the the Pike Central Chargers. Tom Willis Financial Advisor 801 N Vincennes Avenue Petersburg, IN 47567 812-354-9950 Member SIPC 3.5" x 2.5" | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt MKT-5894M-A > edwardjones.com We support the the Pike Central Chargers. Tom Willis Financial Advisor 801 N Vincennes Avenue Petersburg, IN 47567 812-354-9950 Member SIPC Let's Go Let's Go Chargers! Chargers! 2134 E MAIN STREET, PETERSBURG | SMASHED to SHINY Get back in the game with Pike Collision. Trust your vehicle to us for quality auto body repair and paint services. Don't settle for less! Call 812-380-7453 2022 Pike Central tennis team members are (l to r ): Coach Brent Beck, Jaime Sallee, Ella McGuire, Gabby Collins, Shelby Keeker, Reagan Craig, Lilian Mann and Eiblin Teague. Not present are Coach Jill Keepes, Coach Bob Collins, Alaina Johnson, Ashlyn Kirk and Brylee Walker. Lady Chargers tennis returns solid foundation By Andy Heuring Pike Central's girls tennis team returns a solid founda- tion from last year's squad. They only graduated one se- nior, Zoey Davis. They have seven of their top eight play- ers returning. "I'm excited because we have nearly all of our kids back from last year. We were young but took our licks a few times last year. But if we play well and continue to improve we should play our way into the top half of the PAC," said Charger Coach Brent Beck. Last year was a crazy year for the Chargers. Injuries and COVID quarantines kept Pike Central's line up in a constant flux. "We must have had at least a half-doz- en different line ups," said Beck. Ella McGuire is expected to play number one singles as she did much of last sea- son. "Ella has solid baseline skills with a nice forehand and backhand and has a nice serve," said Beck. "She has a lot of experience in singles. She has as much court time as anyone we have." Jamie Sallee is expected to play number two singles for the Chargers. "She is fair- ly new to the game. She had improved a lot. She moves well. She is quick and over the court well," said Beck. He added, "her ground strokes are coming along this year." Beck said they are still fig- uring out where the other girls are going to be play- ing. Reagan Craig played doubles last year. She is good at the net and aggressive with their vol- leys." Shelby Keek- er played num- ber two singles several match- es last year. She suffered a bro- ken leg last year that caused her to miss some of last season. "She is prob- ably one of our best servers. When she is serv- ing we know we are probably go- ing to hold that serve. Her ground strokes are pretty solid as well," said Beck. Alaina Johnson played dou- bles for the Chargers last season. "She does a good job from the baseline. Her ground strokes are definite- ly her strong suit," said Beck. Johnson played number two doubles last year. "I don't know if she will play two dou- bles or singles," said Beck. Gabby Collins played both singles and doubles last year. "She is a lefty. We can put Gabby anywhere. She played doubles and number three singles for us. She was our Swiss Army knife last year. It is nice to have someone who can play anywhere we need her," said Beck. Lilly Mann is a freshmen this year. "She is going to help us, but we are going to have to figure out where to play her," said Beck. He said over the next couple of weeks they will be playing the girls in different situations to see where they best fit in the lineup. "We have a couple of weeks to do that." The team has newcom- ers Eighlin Teague and Ash- li Kirdk. "Teague played in middle school," said Beck. "Ashlyn played basketball and is pretty athletic." Jill Keepes and Bob Col- lins are assistant coaches for the girls team. Beck said he expects the team to be much better this year, competing well in the PAC, which recently expand- ed to 13 teams from nine as former Big 8 teams Wash- ington, Princeton, Boon- ville and Mt. Vernon joined the conference last season. "It was already tough, but now it is a really tough con- ference. Tecumseh in (girls) basketball was fifth in the conference and were state champions." "We are still a young team with no seniors," said Beck. However, he said with an- other season of varsity ex- perience under their belts and hopefully a much more consistent lineup without COVID quarantines this season, they can be middle of the pack. "Then next year we may really be doing some things," said Beck. "We are still a young team with no seniors," said Beck. However, he said with another sea- son of varsity experi- ence under their belts and hopefully a much more consistent lineup without COVID quaran- tines this season, they can be middle of the pack. "Then next year we may really be doing some things." –Coach Brent Beck GIRLS' VARSITY TENNIS Fri 4/1 6:00 PM Mount Vernon MVHS Tennis Courts Away Mon 4/4 5:30 PM Tecumseh Pike Central Home Tue 4/5 5:00 PM Vincennes Lincoln Pike Central Home Thu 4/7 5:30 PM Princeton Community Pike Central Home Sat 4/9 9:00 AM Loogootee Invitational Unknown location Away Tue 4/12 4:30 PM North Daviess North Daviess Away Wed 4/13 5:30 PM North Posey Pike Central Home Sat 4/16 9:00 AM Mt. Vernon Invite Unknown location Away Mon 4/18 5:00 PM Forest Park Forest Park Away Wed 4/20 4:30 PM Southridge Southridge Away Thu 4/21 5:00 PM South Knox SK Tennis Courts Away Fri 4/22 3:30 PM Sports Pictures Pike Central Home Tue 4/26 5:30 PM Heritage Hills Pike Central Home Wed 4/27 4:30 PM Washington Catholic Washington Catholic Away Thu 4/28 5:30 PM Gibson Southern Pike Central Home Tue 5/3 4:30 PM Northeast Dubois Northeast Dubois Away Wed 5/4 5:30 PM Wood Memorial Pike Central Home Fri 5/6 4:30 PM Washington Pike Central Home Sat 5/7 11:00 AM Tell City Tell City Away Mon 5/9 6:00 PM South Spencer South Spencer Away Tue 5/10 4:30 PM Barr-Reeve Barr-Reeve Away