IRRIGON — Claire Mueller and Sammy Yates ran their record to 6-0 on the season, and Irrigon beat Weston-McEwen 4-1 in Special District 4 action on a cold and windy Thursday afternoon.
Mueller and Yates, who won a district title and played at state last year, made quick work of TigerScots Nelly Barahona and Alethea Bond in the No. 1 match, 6-0, 6-0.
Mueller and Yates have only lost five games this spring.
“It’s a lot of fun to watch them play,” Irrigon coach Katrina VanderPloeg said. “They have come a long way. They are really good friends and their chemistry on the court works well. They are out there playing as much as they can. They are both pretty good at everything. Neither has a higher strength than the other.”
Weston-McEwen won its lone match at No. 2 doubles as River Dennett and Rebecca Young beat Melany Cuevas and Roxy Solis 8-6.
“They are normally our No. 3 doubles,” VanderPloeg said of Cuevas and Solis. “Our No. 2 doubles team was gone today and they stepped up to the challenge.”
Irrigon’s Catalina Valencia beat Angelina Erb 6-0, 6-0 to improve to 6-1.
“She has a lot of fun with tennis,” VanderPloeg said. “It’s her only sport. She’s what they call a backboard. She is a really consistent hitter. She’s able to hit against a really hard server. She is a very consistent player.”
The Knights did not give up a game in singles as Alexis Ewing beat Lillian Waldher 8-0, and Yamileth Rodriguez beat Aleah Peterson 8-0.
“We have had a pretty successful season this year,” VanderPloeg said. “We just like to go out and have a good time and be competitive.”
PENDLETON 4, FOUR RIVERS 2 — The Bucks swept the doubles and won the top singles match for a Special District 5 win over the Falcons in Ontario.
Olivia Allen lost her first set to Alyson Hernandez 7-6, then stormed back to win the next two sets 6-1 and 10-8.
Four Rivers’ Alexus Sorenson won the No. 2 match 7-5, 5-7, 10-8 over Kamryn Matteson, and Ellie Madera beat Pendleton’s Amelia Thompson 9-8 (4).
The Falcons forfeited the first and third doubles match, while the Bucks won the remaining two.
At No. 2, Avery Pitner and Avery Brown beat Sophia Delucio and Catalina Carlson 6-2, 7-6 (0), and at No. 4, Emily Pattison and Miracle Edmiston topped Payton Villanueva and Alexa Martinez 6-0, 3-6, 10-4.
Boys tennis
PENDLETON 3, FOUR RIVERS 1 — Freshman Sam Larsen improved to 7-1 on the season, and the Bucks handed the Falcons a Special District 5 loss in Ontario.
Larson won the No. 1 singles match 7-5, 6-4 over Eddie Navarro, and Adam Harrison won the No. 2 match for Pendleton with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Abe Paredes.
The Falcons won the No.1 doubles match as Alex Martinez and Alessandro Martinez defeated Ben Larsen and Will Larsen 6-1, 6-0.
The Bucks’ Jordan Hantke and Henry Pullen won the No. 2 match 6-7 (4), 6-1, 10-7 over Jared Velasquez and DJ Arocha.
Boys golf
TRINITY LUTHERAN 4A INVITATIONAL — Pendleton’s Landon Neistadt had two birdies and shot a 37 for medalist honors, and the Bucks won the team title at Brasada Canyons in Powell Butte.
“We played well,” Pendleton coach Marc Sokoloski said. “I’m happy with how we handled a course we haven’t ever played on. It’s always a good indicator that we’re going in the right direction when we can score on a foreign course. With that said, there’s still some technical things we need to work on as we move to the midpoint of the season heading toward district and state.”
As a team, Pendleton finished with a 159, while Baker had a 167 and Madras a 177.
Pendleton’s Cole Sazue and Sheldon Joseph, and Madras’ Tate Alire, finished tied for second with 39s.
Rounding out the scoring for the Bucks was Bobby Bostwick (T5th, 40).
NIXYAAWII INVITATIONAL — McLoughlin’s Preston Wheeler shot a 79 to earn medalist honors, and teammate Leo Saldana was second with an 82 at Wildhorse Resort Golf Course.
Wheeler and Saldana helped the Pioneers to second in the team standings with a 395, just two strokes back of champion Enterprise (393). Wallowa/Joseph was third with a 408.
Umatilla and the host Golden Eagles did not field complete teams.
Also scoring for the Pioneers were Ryan Badgett, who was 12th with a 112, and Emiliano Parra, who was 14th with a 122.
Jeffrey Van Pelt led Nixyaawii, shooting a 125 to finish 16th. He was followed by Evan Minthorn (18th, 128) and Harley Gone (19th, 134).
For Umatilla, Owen Waddell was 17th with a 127, and Kristian Johnson was 20th with a 138.
HEPPNER INVITE — Pilot Rock’s Landon Norton won medalist honors, and Heppner won the team title at Willow Creek Country Club.
Norton shot a 75 on the par-60 course, four strokes better than runner-up Owen Guerra (79) of Heppner. Heppner’s Mason Seitz was third with an 80.
As a team, the Mustangs shot a 337, 40 strokes in front of the Echo junior varsity (377). Union/Cove/Imbler was third with a 401. Pilot Rock did not field a complete team.
Also scoring for Heppner were Olson Anderson (5th, 88) and Zion Ramos-Lopez (6th, 90).
Leading the way for Echo was Cristian Sanchez, who was fourth with an 83. He was followed by Dylan Zielke (T10th, 94), Juliyan Gomez (12th, 96) and Mikey Hayden (14th, 102).
For the Rockets, Spencer Wynder tied for 17th with a 114.
Girls golf
Heppner took the top three spots and won the team title at the Heppner Invite at Willow Creek Country Club.
Sophomore Naomi Propheter earned medalist honors with a 75, which included birdies on holes 10 and 18.
Ashlee Kunz was second for the Mustangs with an 83, while Jules Archer was third with an 88. Travin Lindsay rounded out the scoring for Heppner, placing fifth with a 92.
The Mustangs won the team title with a 338, while Pendleton was second with a 391, and Echo/Stanfield was third with a 433.
Emma Ware led Pendleton, finishing tied for third with an 88. She was followed by Brinley Curtiss (7th, 96), Kamryn Clark (10th, 102) and Kennady Alvarado (T11th, 105).
