BOB STRICKLEY

PDT Sports Editor

The Portsmouth doubles team of Trevor Violette and Tanner Hatcher became just the third Trojan duo to reach the Division II State Doubles Tournament and despite their season-long dominance, the pair from Portsmouth had a first-round departure from Columbus on Friday afternoon.

Violette and Hatcher faced Toledo Maumee Valley Country Day’s Grant MacPherson and Stephen Shin at the Ohio State Outdoor Varsity Tennis Complex and fell 6-1, 6-2.

The Trojan doubles team was the runner-up in the Southeast District Tournament earning their spot in the state contest.

Violette and Hatcher joined the former Portsmouth doubles team of Casey Blood and Marty Glick (1957) and the team of John Scott and Jeff Deyer (1983, ‘84) as the only Trojan duos to make it to the State Tournament.

Hatcher went undefeated as Portsmouth’s No. 2 singles player in the regular season while Violette earned SEOAL Player of the Year honors as Trojan coach Chris Coles’ No. 1 option in singles play.

Violette and Hatcher helped the Trojans to a 13-0 regular-season and SEOAL championship.

The conclusion of the 2012 tennis season also marks the conclusion of Cole’s reign as the Portsmouth tennis boss. Cole told the Daily Times earlier in the week of his intentions to step away from coaching to spend more time with his children.

MacPherson and Shin went on to defeat Alex Markovits and Matt Cohen of Cincinnati Seven Hills 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) in the second round of play Friday afternoon to advance to the second day of play in Columbus.

Bob Strickley may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 203, or bstrickley@heartlandpublications.com.