The 18+ Flights Take a Break while Wembley, LaTuchie Remain Undefeated!
While the youngsters in the 18+ Flights took a well deserved nap to rest and recover, the 40+ warriors of the 3.0 courts kept at it!
40+
Flight Standings
LaTuchie 4-0
P.Westlake 3-1
Wembley 3-0
P.Medina 2-2
CVAC 1-3
NCRC 1-3
Towpath 1-1
Force 0-3
Bay 0-2
Home team NCRC got off to a rough start as CVAC came out with all their tennis guns a'blazing, sweeping both singles courts as CVAC's Bill and Steve enjoyed their third and fourth wins, respectively, on the season! But NCRC rallied with some home-doubles-cooking as Mathew and Rex started off the doubles play with a solid win in #1 doubles, all the more remarkable as it was Rex's first ever 3.0 match! No doubt inspired, NCRC Captain Tim helped lead rookie Jason to his first win in #2 doubles, meaning that #3 doubles would prove decisive! In said match, the tiring commute to North Canton may have finally gotten to CVAC, and William chose the perfect time to pounce and to also get his first win on the season as he and Edward gave the home fans in ALL OF CANTON something cheer about with a doubles win that helped NCRC get their first team victory on the season!
In the highlight match of the evening, no doubt televised on Espn The Ocho, two undefeated squads faced off, with Cinderella team Paramount Westlake travelling east to pre-season Flight favorite Wembley. Wembley looked to crush the Disney-esque dreams of the west siders as James and Patrick continued their strong 3.0 seasons by sweeping the singles courts as both players earned their first 3.0 singles wins on the young season. Paramount's Captain Robert, though, countered with the team's strength - HIMSELF! - and helped lead #1 and #2 doubles to two hard-fought victories, all the more impressive as Captain Robert earned career 3.0 victory number 80, tying him for 4th all-time! With the team match tied up at two wins a piece, it would all come down to #3 doubles (but unfortunately The Ocho had to return to Corn Hole Championships which, honestly, is sadly a real thing), in which Paramount veterans Robert and James would face off versus relative newbies David and Kyle. Perhaps not knowing the gravity of the event and lacking the nerves that makes #3 doubles the toughest doubles court in all the land, David and Kyle not only enjoyed their first and second wins on the year, but clinched the team win as well, putting them in a tie as the top team in the Flight!
Bay headed south, looking for their first team win on the year versus a steadily improving and veteran laden Paramount Medina team. In singles, Paramount's Patrick and Kishore used contrasting styles to give their club an early lead, with Kishore slicing and dicing his was to his first 3.0 victory despite a valiant comeback by Bay's Captain Erik. On the other singles court, it was a revisiting of the 2019 Paramount Winter Championships finale, in which Patrick and Travis put on a three-set nail biter where only three points decided the entire match! This rematch was just as close, if by "close" you mean Travis only scored about three points the entire match as Patrick played with such power that he often bludgeoned the ball by, over, and sometimes through his opponent. When it was all said and done, while Travis was thanking Patrick for at least ending his evening early, Medina raced off to an fast 2-0 lead on the team sheet, meaning they needed one doubles victory to seal the deal. But Bay's #1 doubles tandem, Tom and Brian, were playing for team pride, and that pride only grew as the earned their second tag team victory on the season! Thus, Medina's Captain Rob, joined by legendary Will, would have to get the job done versus Bay's legendary Don "Two to Deuce" McLeroy, who was extending his own record for most Bay appearances! Despite Don's Cal Ripken-esque stature, Captain Rob and Will proved too formidable, and the pairing clinched the team victory as Captain Rob enjoyed his third 3.0 victory on the season!
LaTuchie @ Force - 3-2
Undefeated LaTuchie travelled north by northwest (just like that classic tennis film starring Cary Grant) to play Force, a squad hungry for their first team win on the season! D.F.O. Player of the Year favorite Scott continued his fantastic season, bouncing back from last week's loss to enjoy his Flight leading sixth 3.0 singles victory on the season, but Force free agent Giju evened up the team score with his first 3.0 victory for his new team! In doubles, two of the best duo's in all of doubles history - ALL OF IT! - faced off with Jeff and Chris eeking out a close, close match versus Force legends John and Scott, to go 3-0 on the year as a doubles tandem! Seeing the moment was right, Captain Ronald teamed up with Todd to seal the deal, enjoying his eighth victory on the season and more importantly clinching the match to help LaTuchie stay undefeated and on top of the Flight standings!
Summary
While the kids in the 18+ Flights were sent to their proverbial rooms for a time-out, the elderly statesmen of the 40+ Flight continued to ply their trade as the top of the Flight started to get pretty crowded with some pretty stellar teams! Good luck to all next week as ALL the Flights are back in 3.0 action!
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