Photo by Tamie Meck Paonia girls’ tennis coach Kyle Banks gives Tyler Rapke some pointers at a recent practice while Annavah Kropp waits on the opposite side of the net. Paonia has an incomplete but experienced team this season. Fruita is in town on Thursday.The Paonia girls may be shy of a complete team this season, but the players who did make the commitment bring experience, talent and a love for the game to the court.

Two senior players are especially dedicated to the game.

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Photo by Tamie Meck Eagles outfielder Joel Simianer arrives ahead of the tag by Hotchkiss second baseman, Cesar Gonzales, in game one of Saturday’s conference doubleheader. The Eagles swept the series, defeating Hotchkiss 9-0 and 12-6.Paonia welcomed Hotchkiss to the 2A Western Slope League Saturday, sweeping the doubleheader at Paonia and blanking the Bulldogs in game one with a 9-0 win.

With the exception of 2010, when they didn't play each other, the Bulldogs have won every game against Paonia since 2008.

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Photo by Wayne Crick Paonia’s Rose Medina reaches high for a backhand shot against Delta’s 1D team in a match played last week.

Photo by Tamie Meck Paonia’s Ashley Van Vleet runs Saturday in the 3200m relay at the Delta Invitational. The Eagles track teams used the meet, the first of their season, to try out different events and test skills. Van Vleet was first in the 400 and second in the 200.With several of their members still making the transition from winter to spring sports, Paonia's track teams were missing several athletes.

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