REDMOND – Central Oregon boys participating in the opening day of the Intermountain Conference Tennis Championships at Sam Johnson Park got the local teams off to a strong start.

Four of the five Central Oregon entries to play pigtail matches in the singles division won on Thursday, while the only doubles match involving a Central Oregon entry also won.

Will Burks of Bend High defeated Hood River Valley’s Andy Crafts 6-1, 6-0, while Mountain View’s Sean Conley topped Erik Perez of Hermiston, 6-0, 6-1, in singles action.

In the only singles match of the day involving two local players, Slade Menold of Redmond topped Crook County’s Mike Bates 8-1 in a pro set.

Jordan Grund and Josh Guyer of Summit eliminated Hood River Valley’s Caleb Farro and Brian Ratliff in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, in the lone doubles pigtail match involving a local entry.

The full tournament bracket is scheduled to get under way today at 8 a.m. at Sam Johnson Park.

Also on Thursday:

IMC GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIPS

HERMISTON – Redmond’s Krissi Neibauer and Taylor Rodby advanced to today’s doubles action by defeating Summit’s Alaina Balyeat and Hillary Ross in a three-set pigtail match, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, during the first day of the Intermountain Conference Girls Tennis Championships.

Charlotte Thompson of Summit defeated Hermiston’s Sabrina Gibson in singles action, 6-2, 6-0.

Jenessa Lott of Redmond lost in singles competition to Elise Byers of Hood River Valley in straight sets 6-0, 6-3, while Bend High’s Kallie Garrett and Clare Knievel were defeated 6-3, 6-1 by Jessica Eldrigde and Hannah Wicks of Hermiston.

Complete pigtail results were not provided by the host school.

The tournament gets going in earnest this morning, with complete action in the singles and doubles divisions beginning at 8 o’clock.