Evening Sun Report

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Class B Tournament

OWEGO – Norwich juniors Breanna Cashman and Jennifer Borfitz played their way into the Section IV Class B doubles finals Thursday afternoon at Owego, and combined with senior Kristi Orioli’s strong singles run, the Tornado netters are in position to claim the team championship.

Norwich sits in second place with 34 points, four behind leader Seton Catholic Central, and four ahead of third-place Susquehanna Valley. While Borfitz and Cashman are playing for Norwich’s fourth straight Class B doubles title, Orioli is bidding for a third-place finish in singles. If Norwich wins both matches, the Tornado will surge past the Saints.

“I expected that we would compete and be one of the top three teams, but there are so many factors out of our control, especially in doubles,” said Norwich coach John Stewart. “We really did get the draw of all draws.”

Through the luck of a coin flip, Borfitz and Cashman were positioned on the bottom half of the doubles draw, opposite number one seed Kyra Thalacker and Coco Heitman of Owego. Borfitz and Cashman won all three of their matches in straight sets including a 6-3, 6-1 semifinals victory over Seton’s Lauren Crowley and Lauren Miller.

Orioli opened with straight sets wins in her first two matches before losing in the semifinals to second seed Abby Gaylon of Seton. Orioli, the fourth seed, meets number three seed Tiffany Hamden of Johnson City for third place.