South Jones’ Butler, Delk win state title

From staff reports

May 09, 2008 11:16 am

— The South Jones boys’ doubles team won the Class 4A state tennis championship Thursday at the Ridgeland Tennis Center. Lee Butler and Dalton Delk proved too much for the competition in the #2 bracket of the tournament.
In the first round, Butler and Delk beat the tandem of Warren Hem and Kasey Schultz of Long Beach 6-3, 6-3 Wednesday afternoon to advance to the semifinals. Thursday morning, the Braves duo defeated Eric Lynn and Jeremy Smith of Gautier 6-1, 6-4.
Butler and Delk completed their mission by knocking off the #2 seed Cleveland pair of Pat Dean and Henry Varner 6-3, 6-2 in the finals.
“The wind was fierce during both days of competition,” Braves coach Zach Nobles said. “It took us a while to adjust to the conditions, but we fought through it and came out on top.”
This marks the second state title for Lee Butler. He won last year with his sister, Bess, in mixed doubles. Delk, with last year’s partner Wilson Bounds, advanced to the semifinals in 2007.
“With the graduation of Bess and Wilson, it was an easy decision to pair Lee and Dalton together,” Nobles concluded. “In the end it worked out. I am very proud of these two guys. They deserve it.”