Trojan duo advances to state doubles semifinal

<p>INDIANAPOLIS</p><p>For Center Grove junior Grant Herron, it was an excellent start in quest of a state doubles title.</p><p>“We had a lot of energy,” Herron said. “We put a lot of balls away. We ended a lot of points early. Everything was working well. We both played really well.”</p><p>The Trojans’ duo of Herron and senior Nic Ballesteros advanced by beating Warsaw’s senior duo of Spencer Britton and Nolan Knight 6-1, 6-2 Friday in the quarterfinals of the state doubles tournament at Park Tudor.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>The Center Grove tennis partners, who improved their record to 23-5, will meet Leo seniors Isaac Steiner and Eli Herran (17-0) in a 10 a.m. semifinal today at Park Tudor. The championship is set for 2 p.m.</p><p>Ballesteros said their play was sharp most of the way.</p><p>“This is the best we’ve played all week,” Ballesteros said. “There was a drop in energy after the first set, but we quickly got it back.”</p><p>Center Grove had lost a 3-2 decision to Floyd Central in state team quarterfinals last week.</p><p>“Our friends helped us all week and I’m really happy to have them support us as well,” Ballesteros said.</p><p>Herron said it was a long week of practice.</p><p>“We were happy to get out here and play to the best of our capabilities,” Herron said.</p><p>Center Grove coach Ivan Smith was impressed by the Leo team’s play in a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Columbus North’s Adam Saad and Nathan Lin.</p><p>“They’re probably the best team in the tournament,” Smith said. “We’ll have our work cut out for us.”</p><p>Steiner was playing No. 1 singles and Herran No 2 singles for Leo before their coach decided to put them together at No. 1 doubles in the middle of the season. Steiner and Herran had played doubles together through the years in junior tournaments.</p><p>Herran said before the high school season began, the Leo teammates had won a doubles tournament together.</p><p>“We started learning more about each other games,” Herran said. “He’s a lefty and I’m a righty, so that works really well together. Our serves are good and it all mixes well.”</p><p>Center Grove’s Herron understands the mission.</p><p>“We know they’re pretty good and we have to come out and play our best,” Herron said.</p>