After impromptu move to Columbus State, Lady Pats fall to Spalding
By Brian Perkins
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 10:30 p.m.
Read more: Westover Lady Patriots, Spalding County, Mother Nature, Rain, High School Tennis, GHSA, Region 1 AAA, Albany Georgia, Southwest Georgia, Columbus State, Darton College, High School
ALBANY -- The Westover Lady Patriots had waited 11 years to return to the Elite Eight of the AAA State Playoffs. After Tuesday's seven hour long, rain soaked experience, the Lady Patriots may want to wait another 11 years to return.
Rain pushed back Westover's third round date with Spalding County until Tuesday afternoon. The two teams arrived at Darton College for a 1pm start, only to play about 25 minutes of tennis before the rains began to fall. However, the teams had to complete play on Tuesday, because the GHSA mandated that all third-round matches had to be finished by midnight.
The teams and coaches waited at the Darton campus for nearly four hours, repeatedly trying to dry the courts before more rain returned, before making a location change. The two teams boarded buses and traveled to Columbus State on Tuesday evening to finish the event.
After the nearly five hours of waiting and travel, the Lady Patriots fell to Spalding County 5-0. The loss marks just the second of the year for the back-to-back Region 1-AAA Champions.
