Cardinal boys tennis splits home triangular

Harry Oswalt won three of his four matches on Thursday to lead the Newton boys’ tennis team to a home split during its regular-season finale at Aurora Heights Park.

Oswalt was the only singles winner in the Cardinals’ 8-3 loss to Ballard, but Newton downed Saydel 7-2 in its other non-conference matchup.

“We played some great matches throughout the day,” Newton head boys tennis coach Jared Gerber said. “It was a long day. We started at 1 p.m. and finished under the lights at about 9:50.”

In the win over Saydel, the Cardinals were 4-2 in singles and 3-0 in doubles. The two teams played one-set matches to 10 games.

Ethan Valtman won his No. 2 singles match 10-3 and the Cardinals were 3-0 at the back end of the lineup.

Oswalt won 10-1 at No. 4 singles and Andrew Wiles and Ezra Bartell each won 10-4 at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

“Harry played great tennis today,” Gerber said. “He has come on strong at the end of the season. He was just a few points from going a perfect 4-0 on the day.”

Seth Adams and Valtman teamed up to win 10-4 at No. 1 doubles, Evan Marshall and Bartell picked up a 10-5 victory at No. 2 doubles and Oswalt and Damien Smith won 10-6.

Newton and Ballard played best-of-three sets in their matchup. Oswalt was the Cardinals’ lone singles winner as he claimed a 7-5, 6-3 victory at No. 4 singles. Oswalt’s loss in doubles with Adams went three sets.

The other victories came from Collin Buchli and Bartell at No. 3 doubles and Smith and Stone Lillard at No. 5 doubles.

Buchli and Bartell won 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 and Smith and Stone Lillard posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

All five of Ballard’s singles wins came in straight sets. The Bombers claimed straight-set victories in seven of their eight wins.

“It’s sad to be done with the regular season and to see the end of the year for the JV, but we’re excited for postseason play next week,” Gerber said.