Moses Lake tennis season ends early

WENATCHEE — A strong regular season of tennis ended prematurely as the Moses Lake Chiefs boys and girls teams’ seasons were wrapped at the Columbia Basin Big 9 District meet in Wenatchee on Saturday.

The Chiefs’ boys doubles team of Dominic Cacchiotti and Connor Lange and Tyler Knapp and Conner Koreis both fell in second round matches against Richland duos.

Lange, who played No. 1 singles most of the year, and Cacchiotti fell 7-5, 6-3, while Knapp and Koreis were dismissed in consecutive 6-0 sets.

“We took a risk at doubles as it gave us the best chance to qualify for state,” Moses Lake coach Jon Wrigley said. “The risk in doubles is the draw is much deeper because after the top two players in the league the top players typically top players typically flock to doubles.”

Lange and Cacchiotti battled it out with a strong No.1 Richland team and hung with them but could not get a break.

“We played a solid match but they gave us nothing,” Wrigley said. “We lost control of the net as the match went on to make matters worse. Without any free points coming our way it was a tough road.”

Moses Lake recorded wins in the play-in rounds with Mikael Mulugeta (No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-0), and Michael Mekonen/Nat Mengist (No. 3 doubles, 6-3, 6-2), getting victories for the boys.

Both Lange/Cacchiotti and Knapp/Koreis both earned two-set first round wins.

The girls team earned two wins in the tournament behind Jessica Homesley (No. 3 singles, 7-5, 6-1) and Amanda Hart and Annalise Odegaard (No. 3 doubles, 6-2, 6-0) pulling out victories.