Losing isn't the good thing about sports.
For the Detroit Lakes boys' tennis team, Thursday's 4-3 loss to visiting Park Rapids brought out an extra bitter taste.
"Losing is never fun, but this one was a bit tougher for several reasons," said DL head coach Jim Hinson. "First, it was so close and came down to the last point in the last match. Second, it was a conference rival who -- though young -- hung in there for the win.
"But I think the toughest aspect of the loss today was that we made so many unforced errors. Sometimes, you get beat by the superior opponent, but then there are those days when you do everything right except execute your shot."
For the Lakers, it was one of those days.
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"We had so many opportunities for those 'layup' type of points and we just misfired," Hinson added. "The good news is that the sun will come up tomorrow and we'll have the opportunity to get it right the next time."
The Lakers took three of four singles matches, with senior Shawn Gode dominating Ryan Kent in straight sets 6-0 and 6-0.
Sophomores Garret Frank and Ben VanOfflen "gutted" out a pair of three-set matches at the third and fourth singles matches, respectively.
Frank made a comeback after losing set one to Jordan Anderson 6-3, winning the final two 6-3 and 6-0. VanOfflen had to overcome a second-set 6-2 loss, after taking the first one 7-5.
The Laker downed Reed Renner in the final set 6-2 for the win.
At No. 1 doubles, senior Sam Neitzke and junior Izzy Stein couldn't capitalize on a 7-5 win in the first set, dropping the next two 6-4 and 6-2 to Ben Waller and Joe Penning.
The Lakers are 2-2 in the Mid-State Conference and 2-5 overall. They will host Thief River Falls and Fergus Falls Friday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Section teams too much for Lakers
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The Detroit Lakes boys' tennis team was overpowered by some top section opponents, losing to Alexandria 7-0 and Bemidji 5-2 Tuesday at the DLHS courts.
"Literally, it was a David vs. Goliath match against Alexandria," said DL head coach Jim Hinson. "Alex was talented and overpowering at every position. The brightest spots of the day were eighth grader Jake Harman and seventh grader Jessie Meyer who won their exhibition match in straight sets."
The Lakers' Ryan Borgeson won DL's lone singles match of the day, defeating Bemidji's Matt Thompson in two sets, keyed by a tiebreaker win in set one 7-4 and taking set two 7-5.
"Ryan played a mentally smart match and outlasted his Bemidji opponent," Hinson included.
The Lakers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Gode and VanOfflen was a bit of a shake-up in the lineup, but it paid off as the DL duo topped the Lumberjacks' A.J. Shea and Erik Bergsven in straight sets 6-3 and 7-5.
"Izzy Stein was sick, so his No. 1 doubles partner Sam Neitzke played at No. 1 singles and Gode teamed up with Ben VanOfflen," Hinson said. "They had a very close and exciting match and this was Shawn's first time playing doubles."
Frank went three sets against Bemidji's Aaron Carter, losing in the third set 7-5, after dropping the second in a tiebreaker 7-2.
"Garret's match with for many long points and it last three hours," Hinson said. "It was a tight finish."
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Laker results
Park Rapids at Detroit Lakes, Thursday, April 27.
Panthers 4, Lakers 3
Singles -- 1. Shawn Gode (DL) def. Ryan Kent 6-0, 6-0; 2. Mark Smith (PR) def. Ryan Borgeson 6-2, 6-4; 3. Garret Frank (DL) def. Jordan Anderson 3-6, 6-3, 6-0; 4. Ben VanOfflen (DL) def. Reed Renner 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.
Doubles -- 1. Ben Waller/Joe Penning (PR) def. Sam Neitzke/Izzy Stein 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; 2. Brady Pederson/Kirt Leadbetter (PR) def. Matt Branstad/Jerry Walden 6-3, 6-1; 3. Tyson Sievers/Matt Koehler (PR) def. Eric Roethel/Jon Chelmo 6-1, 6-2.
