The Pinecrest boys’ tennis team solidified its hold on the top spot in the Mid-Southeastern Conference standings with a 9-0 win over Jack Britt on Tuesday.

The road win combined with a forfeit win over Douglas Byrd puts the Patriots in first place with a 4-0 record.

“Britt is one of the top-four teams in the conference,” Pinecrest coach Fairley Cameron said. “We came up big in an important match. The team enjoyed the competition and came a step closer to being dominant in the conference for the eighth straight year. The Patriots have only lost one match in conference in the last eight years.”

Pinecrest, which has had several matches postponed because of the weather, plays three conference matches next week, starting with Richmond at home on Monday. Hoke County comes to Pinecrest on Tuesday before the Patriots take to the road to play Seventy-First on Thursday.

The matches will complete Pinecrest’s first half of conference play.

Pinecrest 9, Britt 0

Singles — Darrin Jolly (P) defeated L. Melvin 6-1, 6-2; Eric Helms (P) defeated J. Davis 6-0, 6-0; Drew Canady (P) def. T. Blue 6-0, 6-2; Rich Gola (P) def. M. McDonald 6-3, 6-0; Joshua Monroe (P) def. J. Autry 6-3, 6-3; Erik Hayworth (P) def. R. Gruber 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles — Jolly-Canady (P) def. Melvin-Davis 8-1; Helms-Hayworth (P) def. McDonald-Autry 8-1; Anthony Menzies-Sean Durkee (P) def. Blue-Gaugh 8-3.

O’Neal Golf

The O’Neal School boys’ golf team opened the season with a 39-stroke victory over Hale at Talamore Tuesday afternoon.

The Falcon’s Jack Ulrich took medalist honors with a round of 71 that included an eagle, five birdies, five bogies and a double bogey.

Other scores for the winners were Blair Miller 74, Russ Hefner 78, John Justice and Eric Subin 82, and Jordan Hicks 83.

The total score for O’Neal was 305 to 344 for Hale. Next Tuesday, the Falcons travel to Oak Ridge Military Academy.

O’Neal Soccer

The O’Neal girls’ soccer team was unable to hold onto an early 2-0 lead as it dropped a 3-2 decision to Hale at home Wednesday afternoon.

Tyler Hufted opened the scoring for the Falcons in the 10th minute with a goal off a Hale deflection. Lindsay Garner made it 2-0 in the 25th minute by finishing a cross off the foot of teammate Kristen Crenshaw.

But Hale began its comeback with a goal a few minutes later and tied the match at 2-2 on a penalty kick midway through the second half.

The game-winner came with about eight minutes left in the match when the visitors put away a loose ball in front of the Falcon goal.

O’Neal (1-1) took 13 shots to 10 for Hale. Falcon goalkeeper Nicole Poteat stopped eight shots.

Friday, O’Neal is scheduled to play Flora MacDonald Academy at 4:30 p.m. in Red Springs.

PHS Softball

Jennifer Brophy pitched nine innings and went four for four with the bat with two RBIs, but the Pinecrest softball team still lost to Lee County by the score of 7-4 at home on Tuesday afternoon.

The sophomore pitcher took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning of the non-conference affair. The Jackets scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to send the game into extra innings. The visitors scored four times in the ninth to once for the Patriots to nab the victory.

Pinecrest (0-3-1) was also led in the hitting department by shortstop Izzy McLean, who was two for four with two runs scored and a RBI. Sarah Edwards went two for four and Samantha Oldham was one for five with a RBI.

Schedule Changes

Tuesday night’s baseball game between Pinecrest and Lee County in Sanford was postponed because of a wet field. It has been rescheduled for April 24 at Lee County.

Wednesday’s girls’ soccer match between Pinecrest and Richmond County in Rockingham was postponed because of a wet field.