Bulldogs, Knights will vie for trophy

It’s down to Centerville vs. Northeastern. Again.

The Bulldogs and Knights will meet for the third time in a little more than a week, only this time with a boys tennis sectional championship on the line.

The squads will face off at 9 a.m. today on the Tiernan Center courts to decide the Richmond tournament. Centerville is the defending champion, but 16th-ranked Northeastern has won two straight sectional crowns, last year’s at Jay County.

“It’s going to be difficult to beat any team three times,” Northeastern coach Mike Esposito said after the Knights’ 5-0 semifinal win Friday over Hagerstown.

Centerville won 5-0 over Richmond in Friday’s other semifinal. Northeastern defeated Centerville 5-0 in the regular season, and the Knights won four flights and the Bulldogs one in Monday’s Tri-Eastern Conference tournament finals at Centerville.

Grant Esposito, Jacob Rankin and Jeremy Lacey won at singles Friday for the Knights. Ryan Hester and Charlie Webster won at No. 1 doubles, while Shane Stiner and Craig Dingwerth did the same at No. 2.