Dave Sherry loves competitiveness and the Lehighton coach has seen plenty of it in his players over their first three matches of the season.

Tuesday afternoon, Sherry once again saw it displayed on the courts at Maple Tree Inn Tennis Club during a non-league match against Palmerton.With the Indians leading 3-2, it was the competitiveness of his final two doubles teams that had Sherry excited.Victories in those final matches helped Lehighton post a 5-2 victory."I like it like this. It's competitive," Sherry said about the rivalry with Palmertoin. "Put it this way, it could have gone either way. The matches were close. The tide went this way and then that way."The kids are playing tennis. They're having fun and that's what it's all about."It was Tegan Durishin, the Indians' No. 1 singles' player, and Josh Knappenberger, the Indians' No. 3 singles' player, who were the first two walking off the courts with wins under their belts. Knappenberger posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory over the Bombers' Marc Roselli. Shortly afterwards, Durishin followed with a 6-3, 6-2 win over the Bombers' Rich Roselli.The Bombers took the first doubles' play victory as Jacob Brown and Sal Melo got the best of the Indians' tandem of Kurt Heideck and Thomas Phelan for a 6-2, 6-3 win.It was the first of two female Lehighton doubles pairs to get the momentum right back as Emily Cerimele and Andrea Schafer recorded a 6-1, 6-0 win over the Bombers' Kristen Ahner and Jordan Dopsovic.But Palmerton made things interesting as a heavily contested No. 2 singles' match went to the Bombers' Seth Andress 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-1 over Spence David.Durishin and Knappenberger then sealed the deal posting a 6-4, 6-4 victory over the Bombers' Rich and Marc Roselli at No. 1 doubles.The Indians' duo of Maura Phelan and Elise Johnston put a bigger smile on Sherry's face when they showed their competitiveness in a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory over the Bombers' Bruce Hettler and Gavin Scott at No. 4 doubles."We're competitive with everybody," said Sherry, who's squad matched last year's win total and now has a 2-1 record on the season. "Pottsville, we got a win there. And, Blue Mountain beat us, but the scores were 6-3, 6-4. I remember years ago there was a time when we were getting beat 6-0, 6-0 in matches."So, we're hanging in with everybody. So we're getting there."While Sherry was enjoying the competitiveness of his Indians, Palmerton head coach Alex Knoll was happy to see the efforts the Bombers gave as well. But Knoll was even more pleased to see his team out and getting matches played."It's nice to play teams that are on similiar skill levels," Knoll said. "It makes the match enjoyable for everyone. And, most importantly, the kids who are playing. It was good to see the players getting into rooting for their teammates the last two doubles matches.Today, it went to Lehighton. Who knows, when they come visit us, and it might go our way. There were a lot of coin flips today and I thought both teams played well."Sherry expects the same thing the next time they meet."We will go down there and play their format next time next time," Sherry said. "And, who knows from day to day, a matter of a couple of points here or there is the difference of the set. The teams are pretty equal."Lehighton 5, Palmerton 2SINGLESTegan Durishin (L) def. Rich Roselli 6-2, 6-2; Seth Andress (P) def. Spence David 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-1; Josh Knappenberger (L) def. Marc Roselli 6-1, 6-1.DOUBLESTegan Durishin/Josh Knappenberger (L) def. Rich Roselli/Marc Roselli 6-4, 6-4; Jacob Brown/Sal Melo (P) def. Kurt Heideck/Thomas Phelan 6-2, 6-3; Emily Cerimele/Andrea Schafer (L) def. Kristen Ahner/Jordan Dopsovic 6-1, 6-0; Maura Phelan/Elise Johnston (L) def. Bruce Hettler/Gavin Scott 6-2, 7-6 (7-4 ).