Pittston Area is embarking on the boys tennis season shorthanded.
The Patriots have just four players on the roster – short of the seven needed for a full lineup – and had only three of them available when they played their first two matches of the Wyoming Valley Conference season.
Senior Tyler Hutchins and junior Tanner Osborn are returning singles players.
Zhi Lin, another junior, has moved up from doubles to singles.
Freshman Nick Jones is the newcomer to the lineup.
Osborn will be in the lineup soon. He is recovering from an ankle injury.
The Patriots forfeited both doubles points in each of their first two matches.
Hazleton Area 4, Pittston Area 1
Nick Jones won in his high school debut, pulling out a 7-5, 6-4 victory at third singles Tuesday when the Patriots opened the season at home.
Hutchins lost 6-3, 6-2 at first singles while Lin fell 6-2, 6-4 at second.
Crestwood 5, Pittston Area 0
Crestwood swept host Pittston Area Thursday.
“Each of my singles players were able to get a few points from Crestwood, reaching deuce multiple times, but ultimately couldn’t land on the scoresheet,” Patriots coach Mary Tate Jackson said.