The Morning of Day 2
Though still cooler than we like in these parts, a brilliant and relatively calm morning greeted competitors and fans as they arrived at the courts this morning.
The big guns were out in force as the All Aces Division cruised into high gear. Top seeds Gary Delanois and Diane Johannes ended the dramatic run of Arnie and Randy Wohl in straight sets, and the second-seeded team of Chip Graddy and Jemin Martinsen overcame Pete McElroy and judy Schafft, also in straight sets.
In early Ball Bashers A action, Bill Wright and Lili Canfield continued their quest to be repeat champions by downing Rich Fox and Norma Schuyler in straight sets. The team of Bob and Tania Pleischl eliminated Bruno Glavich and Gina LaManna in another straight-set match that was a lot closer than the score.
Judy Wilson kept alive her hope for a triple crown, when she and partner Greg Pilant ousted Tim Baldwin and Bonnie Graham. Maxwell Thompson almost saw his hopes dashed, as he and partner Angela Mitrisin barely slipped by Jake Keltner and Monica Robb in a third-set super-tiebreak. It was the second consecutive year that Jake and Monica were ousted in a third-set super-tiebreak.
The Morning’s Ball Bashers B competition provided the most dramatic matches for the spectators. Three of the four quarterfinal matches ended in third-set super-tiebreaks, with one going beyond the 10 points necessary to win.
In the first of those drama-filled affairs, Tim and Carol Carr edged No.1 Seeds Bill Cole and Sandi Hill 3-6, 7-5, 10-8. Next to finish was Gabe Gebara and Bev Adams, who lost the first set 2-6, and came back to win 6-3, 10-3. In the longest match of the day, lasting well over two hours, Bryan Schwartz and Linda Gardiner squeaked out the super-tiebreak against Jim Hynden and Joan Palermo11-9 after trailing 4-9 in the breaker. The first two sets were 7-5, and 2-6.
Even the lone match that didn’t go to the third-set breaker produced some thrills. After dominating the first set, Bill Donegan and Sharon Bock cruised to a 5-0, 40-0 lead against Jim Rollero and Sally Mellendorf. One spectator notified me that he match was all but done. Someone forget to tell Jim and Sally.
Despite the huge deficit, Jim found himself serving at 4-5, 30-0 and the crowd was anticipating yet another super-tiebreak. They were disappointed as Bill and Sharon broke serve to claim the victory on their second match point.
The Court Crashers played their semifinal matches this morning as well, and No.1 Seeds Tom VanWyk and Ann Wright posted an easy victory to ease their way into the final. Tom and Ann will face Bill Otey and Wennie Johannes, who won a close first set against Chuck Beagan and April Burkholder before cruising through the second and final set.
Overcoming Tom’s imposing net presence and Ann’s agility will be no easy task for Bill and Wennie, but they have experience on their side. The match should be an interesting one to watch.
Afternoon Delight
In the afternoon matches, another Johannes made her way into a final, as Diane Johannes and Gary Delanois took another step forward in their All Aces title-defense. They eked out a close two-set battle with Tim Jones and Kathy Lanzalotta, and will meet Singles and Doubles winners Chip Graddy and Jemin Martinsen in one of the most anticipated finals of the event. Chip and Jemin ended the championship hopes of Alan Canfield and Amy Ciarrocchi in straight sets.
The climax of the Day 2 afternoon matches was the Ball Bashers A Division semifinal that pitted Defending Champions Bill Wright and Lili Canfield against Greg Pilant and Judy Wilson. It appeared as though we would have a new Champion in the early going, but despite winning the first set with relative ease, Greg and Judy lost a close second and didn’t contend in the third-set super-tiebreak.
Maxwell Thompson kept his hat-trick hopes going when he and Angela Mitrisin held off a game Bob and Tania Pleischl in a tight second set, after dominating the first set. The stakes will be high for both parties in tomorrow’s Ball Bashers A Final, as we have the triple and the title defense on the line.
The Ball Bashers B Division brought the day to a close with Tim and Carol Carr posting a straight-set win over Bryan Schwartz and Linda Gardiner, and Bill Donegan and Sharon Bock doing the same over Gabe Gebara and Bev Adams. Sharon will be trying for her second event win of the championships, having won the Court Crashers Women’s Doubles with Sally Mellendorf.
Once again Gulf Harbour members were out en masse to support the players, and tomorrow’s finals at 10am and 12pm ought to be worthy of record attendance. In addition to the opportunity for three of the competitors to win triple crowns, the Wright family can have husband and wife champions in two divisions, and the Johannes family can have mother and daughter champions in two divisions.
I’m sure there are some other sub plots that I am neglecting to mention, but the bottom line is that the third and final day of our Club Championships is likely to be a special one, especially with the Tennis Grill Night to follow. We look forward to seeing you once again, and good luck to all the participants. game, set, match...
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