Congratulations to 40+ LaTuchie, Paramount Westlake, the Best of the 40+ Best!
Paramount Westlake (making everyone in Westlake proud as they sport their North Ridge shirts) and LaTuchie, the best of the 40+ 3.0 best!
While the 40+ Flight is still ongoing, the top teams have ticketed their trip to the playoffs as undefeated Paramount Westlake claimed the 40+ Flight Championship! Congratulations, too, to LaTuchie, who's Vice-Championship means they'll be representing the best of northeast Ohio's 3.0 best in the 40+ playoffs!
In the 18+ Flights, much is left to be decided, as Western Reserve and CSC, LaTuchie and Paramount Medina, and Force and Towpath all look to attain 3.0 glory - getting the privilege to get to pay for more rec league-level tennis!
18+
Flight 1 Flight 2 Flight 3
40+
Flight 1
18+ Records & Recaps
Flight 1 Standings
W.Reserve 7-1 ... +1 win
CSC 6-2 ... +1 win
Mayfield 4-4 ... -1 loss
CVAC 3-5 ... -1 loss
Green 3-4
Fairlawn 0-7
CSC v. CVAC - 4-1
Western Reserve @ Mayfield - 3-2
Fairlawn v. Green ... no updates ... maybe it's still playing four days late?!
CSC, looking to stay in the running for Flight 1 top tier status, enjoyed a solid team performance versus one of the more improved 3.0 teams of 2021, CVAC. CSC singles specialist Erick enjoyed his fourth 3.0 singles win on the year while in #1 doubles, Dylan and Brian enjoyed their fourth and fifth wins, respectively. The nigh-legendary pairing of Jack and Jacob earned their fifth win as fairy tale pairing to seal the team deal for CSC and keep them in the conversation for the Flight 1 title! Congratulations to Deeter, though, who earned 3.0 win number six on the season for CVAC, who, despite the loss, is in the running for D.F.O. Most Improved 3.0 Team of the Year Award!
Western Reserve, needing the win to stay ahead of CSC, travelled to the Land of the Kings, i.e., Mayfield, to take on last season's playoff Cinderella team! Western Reserve's Captain
Christopher, though, wasn't looking to read any fairy tales this time around, and helped get his club off to the fast start it needed as he and teammate Steven swept the singles courts against two of the best singles players Flight 1 had to offer, maintaining Christopher's undefeated 18+ season! Mayfield's Captain RJ, knowing his team needed the win to stop the 3.0 bleeding and keep Mayfield's wild-card playoff hopes alive, did what any natural leader would do and immediately inserted himself into the action, taking charge of #1 doubles! Inspired, Jim, Christian, John, Matthew, and probably 17 other King family members we're not aware of, won their courts at #2 and #3 doubles! With both team's season's on the line, both clubs went back-and-forth (which, to be honest, is kind of what you have to do in tennis), but it was the undefeated David of Western Reserve who helped win the day for his club, meaning Western Reserve would remain atop the Flight 1 table!
Meanwhile, in Fairlawn ... they're apparently still playing! WHAT AN EPIC SHOWDOWN!
Flight 2 Standings
LaTuchie 8-1 ... -1 Loss
P. Medina 6-3 ... +1 Win
Wembley 4-4 ... +1 Win
Mentor 4-5 ... +1 win
NCRC 3-6 ... -1 loss
CRC 1-7 ... -1 loss
Paramount Medina @ NCRC - 5-0
Wembley v. LaTuchie - 3-2
Mentor @ CRC - 5-0
NCRC hosted Paramount Medina as both teams looked to keep their wild-card playoff hopes alive, and when all was said and done, the travelling squad sent a sure fire 3.0 sign that they may be the hottest 3.0 team around! Paramount got the scoring started in singles, as both matches went to a three set SUPER TIE-BREAKER, first as 6'8" Patrick withstood a comeback from recent Akron Open Vice-Champion Benjamin (read about it here!) to earn his fourth overall 3.0 singles victory on the year while fellow giant Bogdan, standing in at approximately 7'3", enjoyed his third straight 3.0 singles victory on the season! On the doubles courts, history was once again made by one of the most historic players in 3.0 history as the great Roderick (it really should be Roderick the Great ... or The Great Roderick ... or THE Roderick...) enjoyed career 3.0 victory #68, meaning he is now the sixth most winningest 3.0er in 3.0 history! IN HISTORY! More importantly, with the team win, Paramount Medina found themselves in the thick of the 3.0 wild-card playoff race. WILD INDEED!
LaTuchie, who had wrapped up the Flight 2 championship in week eight (which we would have reported had we remembered ... whoops!), was understandably a bit tired from what was no doubt a long week of celebrating and ripe for an upset, which Wembley was more than willing to provide! The singles courts were even-steven, as LaTuchie's Ronald continued his fantastic season, earning his seventh 3.0 singles win in but eight attempts while Wembley rookie David was able to outlast the no-doubt tired Erik, who had just the previous day put in a major effort in his first ever USTA 3.0 tournament, the historic Akron Open (wait, you haven't read about it? Well, here you go!). LaTuchie's Jeff and Chris, though, undefeated as a tandem, did what they do and remained undefeated to get LaTuchie back in the lead with their seventh overall tag-team victory on the year! But at this point, it was fresh blood that made the difference and thwarted LaTuchie's undefeated run, as Wembley rookies Patrick, Michael, David, and James, unfazed by the moment, enjoyed victories on doubles courts #2 and #3 to SHOCK THE 3.0 WORLD (or at least the northeast Ohio part of the 3.0 world) and get Wembley the team win over the best 3.0 team in all of northeastern Ohio!
In CRC, Mentor won the day as fast-charging rookie Nicholas won his sixth 3.0 match in seven attempts, this time at singles #1, while 3.0 veteran John did the same on his singles court to notch season victory numero dos (as they say at Wimbledon ... we assume). Sealing the deal on #1 doubles, the nearly undefeated duo of Mike and Shane won their seventh combo match, putting them in the running for one of the most coveted non-existent awards around - the D.F.O. Doubles Team of the Year Award! Congrats Mike and Shane, and good luck in achieving the ultimate D.F.O. prize - a hearty handshake!
Flight 3 Standings
Force 6-1 ... +1
Towpath 5-1
Bay 4-2 ... +1
P. Westlake 1-7 ... -1
Springside 1-6 ... -1
Bay @ Paramount Westlake - 3-2
Force v. Springside - 4-1
Resurgent Bay, putting together it's best season since ... well ... last season ... travelled to cross-town rival Paramount Westlake, and in doing so picked up their fourth win on the season, tying last year's win total, making this one of the top three team seasons in Bay 3.0 team history! Former Captain David was once again steered the ship, this time as acting Captain, and as the third winningest captain in Bay 3.0 history, he had his team ready to rock (on a scale of 1 to 10, this would be a 3.0 rock band, like a high school band, but still...). Leading the way for Bay were two 3.0 rookies, Dietrich, who continued his potential D.F.O. 3.0 Rookie of the Year status with another win at #1 singles, and Greg, who earned his first ever 3.0 singles victory! In doubles, Bay continued their winning ways as former captain Erik and Brian, two of the best players in Bay history, helped the team tie team history with a #1 doubles win! Paramount's Captain Ryan, though, wasn't going down without a proverbial 3.0 tennis fight (we wonder what that kind of fight would actually look like? Like, on a scale of 1 to 10, would it be a ... wait for it ... 3?), and he got back on the winning ways in #2 doubles while teammate Peter continued his fine undefeated season with another victory!
In Rocky River, Force needed to win and win big to stay atop the Flight 3 standings as they and rival Towpath, on a bye this week, were both sprinting (jogging?) to the 3.0 finish line in what looks to be a tale-of-the-tape type photo finish! Force's doubles specialist John got his team on the scoreboard first with an impressive singles win over Springside's singles specialist Earl in a match that was far closer than the score indicated while Springside's doubles specialist Kyle showed amazing hands and court coverage versus Force's free agent Travis, fresh off his Akron Open appearance (we know you wanna read it ... you ... can't ... ignore ... it ...) in matches that showed Earl and Kyle will be a major 3.0 players in years to come! Down 0-2, Springside's Captain David went to the emotional quiver, and pulled out the the father-son heart tugging arrow of tag-team James and Rick, who looked to derail Force's playoff dreams! And derail they did!
Not only did the father-son combo earn a result that was their second straight win as a tandem, but they also tugged at the heart strings of all father and son 3.0ers everywhere! With momentum shifting and his team on an emotional roller-coaster, Captain Jeremy changed the game by putting in Roger the Angry Canadian (sorry about the Canadiens and the whole NHL thing, eh?) in at #2 doubles , who harnessed all his Canadian rage (is there such a thing as "Canadian rage?") to help lead his team to victory with a rage as thick as maple syrup! And though the team win was secured, with the Flight as tight as it stood and needing all the tie-breakers, Captain Jeremy pulled out all the stops, making sure the Force's air conditioning not only wasn't working but also that the giant industrial fans placed ever so carefully on the courts just close enough to the courts so that you're always just a little worried you may run into said piece of industrial equipment. All this meant that as the #1 doubles match wore on, Springsides David and Thomas, both uncomfortably hot and uncomfortably close to industrial equipment, lost focus as Force's James and Joe were able to outlast the spirited pair in a three set SUPER TIE-BREAKER! When all was said and done, though, the two clubs shared some beverages to the tune of "Cat's in the Cradle," one of the most uplifting tennis songs of all-time.
P. Westlake 8-0 ... +1 win
LaTuchie 7-1 ... +1 win
Force 5-3 ... -1 loss
P. Medina 5-3 ... +1 win
Towpath 3-4 ...
Wembley 3-4 ... -1 loss
NCRC 2-6 ... +1 win
CVAC 1-7
Bay 1-7 ... -1 loss
40+ Recaps
NCRC v. Force ... 3-2
LaTuchie @ Bay ... 4-1
Paramount Medina v. Wembley ... 3-2
Paramount Westlake @ Towpath ... 5-0
Force, looking to keep it's playoff hopes alive in the 40+ Flight, took the longest trip in the history of 3.0 rec league tennis as they travelled more than an hour southeast to not just Canton, but North Canton! Initially, things looked good for the travelling west siders as Force free agents Abhijit and Giju wrapped up fantastic first seasons with their new clubs as both swept the singles courts and ended their seasons with six wins between them! It was in doubles, though, that NCRC's Captain Timothy took charge, first as rookies Matthew and Rex enjoyed not just a #1 doubles victory over one of the best tandems in all of 3.0 tennis, but also ended their 40+ rookie seasons undefeated as a tandem! Fellow rookie Sebastian, teaming with second year player Leon, evened the team score, in #2 doubles, meaning the last match of these two teams' 40+ season would come down to ... #3 doubles! WHOA! THE DRAMA! And in the final match, it was NCRC Captain Timothy who quite literally led his team to their final team victory of the season! In the end, both clubs, new to the rigors of 40+ tennis at the vaunted 3.0 level, had much to celebrate, as Force could applaud their first completed 40+ season in recent memory while NCRC could look forward to the fact that several of their rookies would be big time 3.0 players next season (unless they get promoted to 3.5 or the 55+ league, then in that case, well ... you'll always have 2021!).
Back on the west side, host Bay took on one of the best teams in the 40+ Flight in LaTuchie. Acting Captain Travis pulled out all the stops to try and earn his team their second win of the season, including giving the wrong GPS directions, making suring the restrooms were locked, and ensuring there would be no water access on this hot and humid day. Unfortunately, LaTuchie's Captain Ronald, who needed the win to ensure playoff status, thwarted Bay's Three Point Plan by making sure his team showed up early and hydrated, meaning the advantage immediately swung back to LaTuchie's favor. On the courts, LaTuchie's Scott faced off versus Bay's #1 player Dietrich in a back and forth match in which both players exhibited their 3.0 tennis strengths. At a crucial point in the second set,
though, acting Captain Travis added an additional element to his team's attempts to win at all costs, making sure the foul-mouthed Bay teenagers nearby started to mock each and every shot Scott took. Advantage back to Bay! Dietrich took the second set, but unfortunately for Dietrich the foul-mouthed Bay teens also started mocking him, and with the psychological advantage lost, Scott took advantage to get his ninth 3.0 singles win on the year and more importantly give his squad the early lead!
On the adjoining court, LaTuchie Captain Ronald took on acting Captain Travis in a match of similar styles. Once again, Travis tried to earn the psychological edge by wearing the brightest pink socks possible while also engaging in numerous Beyonce-like outfit changes, but Ronald, the veteran he is, wouldn't be dissuaded from leading his team to this all-important victory, and despite the annoying attempts of his opponent - including one game in which Travis messed up the score no less than four times - Ronald emerged victorious, giving him his eighth 3.0 singles win in nine attempts! Sealing the deal for LaTuchie on the doubles courts, the vaunted tag team of Jeff and Chris enjoyed their seventh victory in as many attempts versus a spry Mike and James while Jeff and Todd earned their second victory as a team in as many tries. That being said, Bay wouldn't go down 0-5 in their final match of the season, and acting Captain Travis had one more trick up his new shirt-sleeve - the angry 3.5 women waiting for the courts to clear out! Riling them up by refusing to leave the courts in a timely manner, acting Captain Travis made sure the 3.5 ladies were staring daggers at LaTuchie's Dennis and Nicolas. That pressure, combined with the pressure of the best Bay doubles tandem in recent Bay 3.0 history, Brian and Tony, won the day for Bay, avoiding the sweep and giving the team something to look forward to heading into next season. Meanwhile, LaTuchie, who actually won the day, had two things to look forward to - future playoffs and getting away from the mean and foul-mouthed Bay teens!
In Medina, Paramount wrapped up a fine season with a team victory over Wembley as Patrick, who has been enjoying such a fine season that those 78' away from him sometimes barely even bother to show up, enjoyed his final 40+ win of the season against someone who never shows up, N.A. De Fault! On the doubles courts, one of the best tandems in 3.0 history, J.P. and David, ended their season in style with another team victory on the doubles courts, but the legendary Denny clinched the team win for his club with his 13th total win on the season!
At Towpath, Paramount Westlake needed the team win to ensure their Flight Championship aspirations, and who better to lead the way for his team than himself - CAPTAIN ROBERT! Calling his own number, Captain Robert helped get the team scoring going with his career 86th win, tying D.F.O. Hall of 3.0 Famer Richard Toth! Inspired by the greatness near him, doubles specialist Debabrata enjoyed his second ever 3.0 singles victory, this time over a top 10 all-time wins leader in Towpath's Captain Frank! With an early 2-0 lead, the Flight title was within the Paramount Westlake grasp, and looking to send a 3.0 message - politely - Captain Robert went for the clean sweep, and who better to help in said sweeping than Michael, James, and Robert, three 3.0 doubles veterans who have over 100 3.0 victories to their combined names! With the team win, Paramount Westlake not only won the team match but won the 40+ Flight as well, giving Captain Robert his 40th career captain victory!
While there is still a week left in the 40+ Flight as Wembley and Towpath look to wrap up their seasons, mathematically, congratulations to both Paramount Westlake and LaTuchie on their fine playoff-bound seasons! Check back next week as we wrap up the 40+ season, preview the playoffs, and maybe, just maybe, hand out some non-existant D.F.O. end of the season awards!
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