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Sunday, May 17, 1998

Fortune wins fourth straight state singles title

By CHIP BROWN / AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN (AP) -- Ben Fortune of Class 3A San Antonio Cole won his fourth straight state singles championship on Saturday, while Sharla Whitaker of Texarkana Pleasant Grove also repeated as 3A singles champ.

Fortune defeated John Leavitt of Vernon 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, becoming only the second boy to win four straight singles state titles. Steve Denton of Bishop also did it from 1972-75.

"I was confident I would win since I won the last three," Fortune said. "But I still knew there would be some tough competition that would force me to bring my game up a level."

In a rematch of last year's 3A girls' state title match, Whitaker again defeated Kristen Wooten of Crandall 7-5, 6-4.

Last year, Whitaker beat Wooten in the finals 7-5, 6-3.

"I was surprised she didn't take me to three sets," Whitaker said. "But after I took the first one from her, I think she was a little disappointed."

In the Class 3A boys' doubles, Clark Arnold of Liberty, who lost in last year's title match with partner Max Tejeda, won this year's crown with partner Lloyd McGuire.

Arnold and McGuire beat Cory Echols and Chad Petross of Vernon 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

In the 3A girls' doubles final, Lauren Longbotham of Groesbeck repeated as champion with a new partner.

Last year, she won it with Robyn Pullio. This year, she paired with Ashley Harryman and defeated Valerie Prince and Jessica Hastie, Longview Spring Hill, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2.

In the boys' Class 2A singles final, J.T. Cope of Franklin knocked off defending champion Kareem Abdullah of Clarendon 6-4, 6-3.

"He won state last year, and that gave me incentive to really want to win today," Cope said. "He played good in the first set, but he had problems returning my first serves. I was placing them well."

In the girls' Class 2A singles championship, Whitney Nebgen of Mason scored a 7-6, 6-1 victory over Natalie Shipp of Big Sandy, a loser in last year's semifinals.

In the boys' 2A doubles final, Luke Spencer and Chris Upston of Lexington defeated last year's runners-up, Cade Smith and Jason McMillan of Mason, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.

In the girls' 2A doubles final, last year's runners-up Piper Boise and Kassie Tallent of Mason defeated Elizabeth Shoemaker and Kylie Sloan of San Saba 6-4, 6-1.

D.J. Rainey of Mertzon Irion Co. won the 1A boys' singles title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Fisher Lawton of Port Aransas.

Colin Trulove and Lane Pepper of Sabinal defended their 1A boys' doubles crown against Spencer Branch and Casey Martin of Weatherford Brock in Saturday's final.

In the 1A girls' singles final, Sandra Schuth of Ben Bolt scored a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Bobbie Kay Smithson of Knippa, a loser in last year's quarterfinals.

In the 1A girls' doubles final, Kami Williamson and Darby Stovall of Menard defeated Janna Garrett and Courtney Chapman of Sabinal 6-2, 6-1.