The Konkrete Kids achieved their goal of beating a tennis team they lost to last year when Northampton defeated Bethlehem Catholic, 4-3, on March 25 at Becahi.
“It was nice because last year we lost to Beca, 6-1, so coming back and showing, that’s all I ask of the boys is beat the teams we lost to last year,” said Northampton coach Daniele Bowman. “That’s our goal for the season, and so far we’re doing well.”
Dane Missmer staged a comeback at No. 1 singles to win the first set against John Vallance, 7-5.
“I didn’t really change anything. I just stayed calm. I just had to go back to the basics and that helps,” said Missmer, who won four games in a row after trailing 3-5. “I had all the confidence because after the first set, it’s hard to come back from that, and you could tell he was getting frustrated.”
Missmer went on to win the second set, 6-2.
“I didn’t really play net at all,” Missmer said. “I kind of just sat in the back the whole game, but my backhand slice, I could just tell he was not used to it, and a couple times I had perfect, unsavable ones, and I had some good forehand placements too. Some of his serves were pretty tricky. I struggled to lob it over him at the net a few times.”
Nick Reichel lost at No. 2 singles to Xavier Shive-Sanchez, 3-6, 2-6, but Joey Tomaro was a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Liam Maloney at No. 3 singles.
“I think I got out of my head, warmed up, and played my game,” said Tomaro regarding the time between sets. “I believe in my speed, so if they try to lob it when I’m at the net, I’ll run and get it. He was hitting some good balls, good placement, and he made me run. I think I was able to keep the ball in longer than him. I outlasted him, I think, until he made a mistake.”
With a Northampton loss at No. 2 doubles, the match was tied, 2-2. Brett Bastian and Connor Retlick won the first set for the Kids, 6-3, but Becahi’s Derrick Hartman and Kendryk Silva won the next two, 6-2, 6-3.
The No. 4 doubles match was next to finish when the Kids went ahead in the team score, 3-2, with Michael DiSante and Nick DiSante defeating Ralston Rowlands and Nico Massa, 6-2, 6-1.
Becahi tied the match again with an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles as Shive-Sanchez and Vallance defeated Missmer and Reichel, but when Northampton’s Chase Roland and Max Kochan won their match at No. 3 doubles, 7-5, 6-4, over Tyler Lennert and Jorge Herrera, the team win belonged to the Konkrete Kids.
“Max and Chase played for me last year, so they had experience coming into the season,” Coach Bowman said. “They both worked hard in the offseason, and it’s paying off. They beat Easton. The two they lost to were Liberty and Parkland, two of our toughest competitions in the league, but they really work hard, and it’s showing.”
With a 4-3 team victory for Northampton, the Konkrete Kids improved their record to 5-3 while the Hawks’ record went to 4-3.