Force, Towpath Hold on to Top Spots!
With both Flight #1 and #2 incredibly close at the top, Matchday 7 promised to CLUSTER THINGS UP EVEN FURTHER! Questions were everywhere, like would Force continue their dominance of Flight #1? (yes) Would Wembley leapfrog Avon Oaks/Bay for 2nd? (yes) Would NCRC and Paramount Medina keep their good times rolling in Flight #2? Would Towpath and LaTuchie as the two top two teams WHO JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE FACING ONE ANOTHER IN A DRAMA-FILLED TENNIS BATTLE FOR FLIGHT FIRST PLACE hold on to their top spots?!
So many questions! So few answers! So for even less answers than you'd think possible, read on!
Flight #1 Recap
Avon Oaks/Bay v. Force, 0-3
Singles - Erik Overberger 1-6, 2-6 v. Andrew Payerl
1st Doubles - Brian Chambers/Tony Slabicki 0-6, 1-6 v. John Prince/Roger Godin
2nd Doubles - Donn McLeroy/Benjamin Shaw 2-6, 3-6 v. Chris Sorensen/Adnan Kazazic
Notes - Captain Dave and Avon Oaks/Bay, needing a team win to stay near the top of the Flight #1 team standings, sent veteran 3.0 singles player Erik, who just last matchday won his 20th career 3.0 match, to the singles courts of their sorta home-court courts at The Bubble (patent pending the naming rights, by the way). Captain Jeremy and Force, needing a team win to most likely clinch at least a playoff spot for the second season in a row, countered Erik's experience with newbie and DFO Rookie of Year candidate, Andrew. Indeed, Andrew, coming in with an undefeated 4-0 record, has taken Flight #1 by storm, much like a Canadian storm, a Canadian tennis blizzard if you will, dropping icy cold forehands and powerfully gusty serves upon his opponents, but doing so with a mapley-syrupy-sweet disposition of kindness (which makes everyone hate him even more ... which isn't true ... but come on, you can't be that good and that nice ... come on Carl Monday, figure something out!). With a strong serve and an even stronger forehand, Andrew utilized his Canadian powers to keep Erik on his heels throughout much of the match. But Erik, a fantastic defensive player and veteran of many a 3.0 tennis battle, used his all-court game to keep the pressure on the rookie from up north, and sent almost every single game to deuce. However, much like Andrew's favorite football team, the CFL champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (we assume that's his favorite football team), Andrew would not be denied, and whenever he needed a big shot, much like his favorite NBA team, the NBA champion Toronto Raptors (we assume), he delivered time and time again, and in doing so, won his third singles match of the season and more importantly got Force one step closer to the one area all young 3.0 children someday dream of playing - the 3.0 playoffs! Erik, meanwhile, played a great defensive game, mixed in with aggressive net play, and knowing he took each game to deuce against a player who is looking to be making noise for possible Rookie of the Year and MVP recognition and DFO Canadian 3.0 Player of the Year (which has never happened before ... literally!), was proud to exclaim after the match, "Finally ... I need a drink." Indeed!
Down 0-1 at their sorta home courts, Captain Dave called in the Bay big guns, besties Brian and Tony, to defend the team's honor, at 1st Doubles. Undefeated together, the tandem looked to have a solid shot of chipping away at Force's lead when it was discovered late that Captain Jeremy had broken up the doubles 3.0 dream team of Scott and John ... HUBBA-WHHHHHHHA?!?! Had Captain Jeremy lost his mind?! Turns out ... no! Captain Jeremy's plan was, as Avon Oaks/Bay soon found out, two fold. One, he planned on working Roger, returning from injury, back into the intense grind that is 3.0 tennis play by teaming him up with one of the best in the 3.0 business, John. Two, he planned on surprising Avon Oaks/Bay with YET ANOTHER CANADIAN PLAYER! WHOA! Brian and Tony, unprepared for CANADIAN DOUBLES (man, we waited a loooooong time to use that lame joke) were caught off-guard as John, like a masculine ballerina (another coaching tip from Captain Jeremy, by the way), got everything back at the net while Roger, like his favorite MLB player ever, former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter (we assume), crushed ball after ball, winning point after point. In the ultimate sign of respect, despite not being able to understand Roger's thick foreign Canadian accent, Brian and Tony, two of the best doubles players in Northeast Ohio, offered up their northern neighbors the official currency of their native land - loads and loads of Molson.
With the team match decided, Force Captain Jeremy sent out one of the best in the 3.0 business, veteran 3.0 doubles expert Adnan, to complete the team sweep. Undefeated in four matches with four different partners, Adnan looked to make it five for five, teaming up with rookie Chris at 2nd Doubles for the first time. But doing so would be no easy task, especially with fellow veteran 3.0 doubles expert Donn on the opposite side of the court. Indeed, earning his 100th career 3.0 match this very summer, Donn is one of the names of 3.0 tennis, and with his spin, his slice, and his swashbuckling approach is never an easy out, especially when you add the fleet rookie Ben to his team. Back and forth this match went, and Captain Dave and Co-Captain Travis began mocking Force Captain Jeremy as Donn and Ben took a first set lead ... but then Captain Dave and Co-Captain Travis had to apologize to Captain Jeremy because, well, they had read the scorecards wrong (darnit). Be that as it may, Adnan's consistency and Donn's grip-it and rip-it approach made for some fun back and forth tennis, giving the fan (the one poor kid who has to run The Bubble so we can all play there) quite a 3.0 tennis treat. In the end, both Chris and Ben, under the tutelage of two esteemed 3.0 veterans, were given a lesson in 3.0 skills (or "skillz" as the kid at The Bubble might say) as Adnan moved to an impressive, and flight-tying, 5-0 perfect record on the season!
Next up - Avon Oaks/Bay Bye, Force v. Wembley
Wembley v. CVAC, 3-0
Singles - Kiyotaka Fukamachi 6-3, 6-3 v. Greg Marthe
1st Doubles - David Ries/James Pruce 6-0, 6-2 v. Jimmy Heiman/Jeffrey Spencer
2nd Doubles - JP Ayyappan/Brian Greene 6-3, 6-2 v. Orlando Dangond/Paul Olson
Notes - Needing a big win to move from 4th to 2nd in the Flight #1 standings, hosts Wembley immediately showed they meant 3.0 business when Captain JP sent their best singles player, Kiyotaka, to the court against CVAC's Greg, who was making his maiden 3.0 singles voyage. In a tight match, Greg performed quite well considering it was his first singles match of the 2020 season, but it was the experienced Kiyotaka who won the day, extending his singles mark to a perfect 2-0 on the season, and getting Wembley off to just the start they needed, proving once again why JP is one of the best captains in the captain'ing business (a very, very lucrative business from what we hear, by the way). In doubles, though, Captain JP showed the same unorthodox captaincy leadership that Captain Jeremy displayed a whole county away, as he shocked the lineup prognosticators by splitting up one of the best 3.0 doubles teams around, himself and David! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!
Winning, that's what! Captain JP and David, 3-1 on the season, split up, with Captain JP putting David with second
year player James. David, enjoying another fine doubles match despite spirited play by Jimmy and Jeffrey, earned an impressive fifth 3.0 doubles victory on the season and helped pilot Jimmy to his first 3.0 win of the season! At the same time, just a court away, perhaps sensing doubles victory like the doubles twins they are, Captain JP followed David's lead and was enjoying a winning day as well, as he teamed with Brian to take a well-earned 2nd Doubles victory versus a strong performance by CVAC's Orlando and Paul. In doing so, not only did Captain JP earn his 20th career league doubles 3.0 victory, but he also helped his team complete the team win and the team sweep, earning the Wembley team valuable team tie-breakers that have vaulted their team into a potential playoff-bound 2nd place Flight #1 placement! YAY TEAM!
Next up - Wembley @ Force, CVAC v. MVRC
Flight #1 Standings/Records
Force 5-0
Wembley 3-3
Avon Oaks/Bay 3-3
MVRC 3-2
CVAC 0-6
Flight #2 Recap
Fairlawn v. Paramount Medina - NO RESULTS POSTED AT TIME OF PUBLICATION
Singles -
1st Doubles -
2nd Doubles -
Notes - Maybe they're still playing! An Isner-Mahut 48 hour epic?!
Next up - Fairlawn @ Green, Paramount Medina @ Towpath
NCRC v. Green, 3-0
Singles - Timothy Booher 6-1, 6-4 v. David Ginnetti
1st Doubles - Benjamin Young/Chester McClain 6-1, 6-2 v. Chip Bond/Rob Gonsor
2nd Doubles - Leon Crumpler/William Woodard 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 T Bortz/Elbert Enrique
Notes - NCRC, needing a big win to stay atop the Flight #2 standings, where four teams started the night tied for the Flight #2 lead in overall wins, led off with another surprising Captaincy move as Captain Benjamin put in undefeated Timothy in the singles spot. While not surprising that Timothy was in the lineup as he's having an amazing Rookie of the Year caliber season, what was surprising is that this was Timothy's first ever 3.0 singles match. WHOA! THE PRESSURE! And across the court from him stood veteran 3.0er David, tournament tested and undefeated on the season in singles. WHOA again! Timothy, though, enjoyed the friendly confines of his home courts, and came out swinging (which is probably 100% accurate even though we weren't actually there to see him swing, but seeing as this is tennis, well ... you'd have to swing ... right?) to take an early lead. David, though, is a veteran for a reason, and in the second set he made a push to get back in the match, putting the rookie under immense pressure! But with Captain Benjamin by his side (probably on the court by his side of the court), Timothy was able to ride out the rocky road that can be singles jitters to get himself and his team the opening win! Up 1-0, Captain Benjamin took matters into his own hands and, teaming up with veteran 3.0er Chester, took the 1st Doubles courts versus Green Captain Chip and teammate Rob, making their combined 40th league 3.0 appearance! Despite the veteran moxy of Chip and Rob, however, the doubles communication of Captain Benjamin and Chester, two players who have joined forced multiple times, proved to be the difference, and each walked away not only with their second individual win of the season but with the team clinching win as well. That being said, with Flight #2 as close as it is, Captain Benjamin knew he needed a team capable of winning 2nd Doubles to earn NCRC some valuable tie-breakers, and to do so he put the team's tie-breaking fate in the capable hands of Leon and undefeated rookie William. But to earn said win, they'd have to take down doubles veteran T and singles expert Elbert, which would obviously be no easy task. And indeed, after a fast start by Leon and William, T and Elbert bounced right back, finding the rhythm needed to not just stay in the match, but force the match to a SUPER tie-break! In the SUPER tie-break, the veteran experience of Leon and the athleticism of WIlliam proved to be the difference, and as such, NCRC enjoyed the win and valuable tie-breaking points against an increasingly strong Green team!
Next up - NCRC @ LaTuchie, Green v. Fairlawn
Towpath v. LaTuchie, 2-1
Singles - Jason Dzik 2-6, 6-7 v. Scott Hovey
1st Doubles - Craig Warner/Frank Licari 6-6, 6-0 v. Jeff Sterling/Ronald Thomas
2nd Doubles - John Consilio/Bryan Dudiwka 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 v. Kevin Thomas/Brandon Walch
Notes - In a matchup of Flight #2's team numero uno and team numero dos, this was clearly the marquee 3.0 matchup of the 3.0 evening. Add in that this match was taking place on the historic courts of Towpath, and this was do doubt the match the entire 3.0 world was looking to watch (sidebar: we desperately need 3.0tv, because, especially nowadays, I'm guessing people would watch our high-level performances ... for comedic value if nothing else)! Both teams were tied at the top of Flight #2 in overall wins, meaning tonight's show down would go a long, long way towards helping to determine flight supremacy! Not surprisingly, Towpath's Captain Frank led off with singles star Jason, undefeated in four singles matches while LaTuchie's Captain Ronald countered with not just one of the hottest 3.0 rookies in the league thus far, but now also a tournament tested 3.0 rookie as well! Indeed, Scott, 3-0 on the league season, had the week before just competed in his first ever USTA 3.0 tournament, the Akron Open, earning three 3.0 tournament victories in the process and surely announcing himself as one of the top up-and-comer 3.0 players around! That experience, combined with his now 3.0 famous serves and ripping forehand, gave Scott an early lead in this enormously huge match between two tennis team titans! But Jason is one of the best 3.0 singles players around for a reason, and he rallied back (quite literally, we're guessing) to not only get back in the match, but push the second set to a lengthy tie-break! Scott, though, thanks to his tournament experience, was able to prevail in one of the most looked forward to singles matches of the season, and while he gave his team an early 1-0 advantage, there's a better than 3 out of 10 chance that these two teams may meet again, but this time in the playoffs!
Down 0-1, Towpath's Captain Frank had to put in someone he could count on - and who better to count on than YOURSELF! Captain Frank and doubles stalwart Craig, combined together for well over 100 3.0 wins, and are no doubt an intimidating doubles tandem for anyone to face. But if anyone could face them, it would be Jeff, whose 35-17 doubles record in 3.0 play is one of the more impressive marks around. Add in the leadership of Captain Ronald, and you had two undefeated players going for LaTuchie in this all-important match. However, on the home courts of Towpath, and with their vast experience, Captain Frank and Craig won the day despite some strong play from Jeff and Ronald, and with that, Frank earned his 59th career 3.0 win (we thought ... he's actually in the mid-60s because we forgot he was playing for another league ... the stamina!), Craig his 50th career 3.0 win, but more importantly, the team match was now evened up at 1-1.
WHICH MEANT IT WAS 2ND DOUBLES TIME! Towpath put all the pressure on John and Bryan, who had six combined 3.0 wins on the season, while LaTuchie put in two 3.0 rookies, Kevin and Brandon, the latter of which was undefeated on the season. A back and forth, incredibly even display took place, with the road team drawing first blood (hopefully that's a proverbial statement) before the home team stormed back to take the second. In another close tie-breaker, showing just how close these two clubs are, the home team emerged victorious, which was especially special for John as he notched his 25th career 3.0 win, a win that was especially extra special since it clinched the team match for Towpath 2-1, keeping them in first place for yet another week!
Next up - Towpath v. Paramount Medina, LaTuchie v. NCRC
Flight #2 Standings/Records
Towpath 5-2
NCRC 5-2
LaTuchie 4-3
P. Medina 4-2*
Fairlawn 1-5*
Green 1-6
Conclusion
Great googly moogly! What a week of tennis! In Flight #1, Force continued its dominance, all but ensuring they'll be playing post-season tennis while Wembley, with their win, is back in the race for a top two finish! In Flight #2, Towpath and LaTuchie gave the 3.0 world the team match they were waiting for while NCRC jumped into the number two spot with another great performance. Meanwhile, Paramount Medina and Fairlawn may still be playing for all we know! WHAT A MARATHON MATCH!
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