Cinch!

Clark's River Oaks super senior team won the division last night by defeating North Ridge 2-1. Great job Captain Clark! ---Large type for seniors....

How Sweet it is!!!

Those are the words of Captain John Clark and Ralph Kramden after the Super Seniors defeated the legendary Northridge team last night by a score of two courts to one. The victory clinched the NEOTA Super Senior Championship with three matches yet to be played. Jerry Leak and Bob Barker fought hard but came up on the short end by a count of 5-7, 5-7 on court 1 against Bill Rosenburg and Denny Demarco. Art Stehlik and Dave Hinckley, in an awesome display of teamwork, beat Jerry Dolcini and Don Ritter in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 on court two. Finally, what can you say about Dick Lancaster and Joe Pare who sliced and diced there way to a court three 6-3, 6-1 win over a stunned Ken Anderson and Roger Flickinger who had never lost as a doubles team going back to when they were playing 4.0 Adult League. Well deserved congrats to the guys who have finally gotten the bear. Looks like there's a new sheriff in town!

Gallo's 3.5 Upsets Undefeated Peak Performance

Last night started with stress and some heartburn worrying about forfeiting a court. The unnamed partner of Mark Shepard was finally tracked down feeding "Alpo" to man's best friend at home. "Oh, I thought we started at 6:30 pm" was the rhetorical response when asked by the nervous and overheated team captain if he were planning to play. The start time misunderstanding was straightened out and Mark's partner was on court within 10 minutes averting our first forfeit ever. Our opposing team's captain was informed that Mark's Alpo feeding partner had been stuck in rush hour traffic and was just minutes away. Therefore, he honored us with an additional 15 minutes of grace time. With this behind us Egon went to work at 1st Singles and proceeded to daydream of his fantastic trout fishing trip with son Brett north of the Georgian Bay last week. I did have a chance to taste the trout after being smoked and grilled last week end and it was wonderful. Oh, we came out on the short end of the stick on his court, 6-4, 6-2. I must say that Norm at 2nd Doubles was still thinking of the recent weekend when his newest grandchild visited. I'm sure he was probably also thinking of the Halloween Party he and Michelle must be planning for their two new grandchildren... hay ride on the trailer behind the tractor, dunking for apples, costumes, and the rum and cider he would be making for his two sons who are now proud papa's.... oh no, we lost this court, too, 6-1, 6-2. Well, now we are two courts down to the only undefeated team, Peak Performance (PP), in our flight. The evening started off bad and seemed to be getting worse after dropping the two singles courts. But wait, Mark Shepard and his partner "Mr Alpo" (aka Ron Farnham) decided to make a statement and "whacked" their opponents from both sides of the court and walked away with a resounding win at 6-4, 6-1 at 1st Doubles. Not to be outdone, the "Katzenjammer" twins decided to put racquets to ball and bounced that little, yeller' motha' back and forth, hard enough and long enough to take a second win on the 2nd Doubles court. That's right, the twins team of Mike Cash and Mike Bornhorst blasted through with a 6-3, 6-3 win. Hey, now we are tied with 2 courts lost and 2 courts won. We really need that third court! Playing on the 3rd Doubles court fresh off the DL was Mark Flash, still limping from his sprained ankle but with his ever present and joyous smile. Partnered with "Mr. Weak Ankle" was Pete Gallo, having to play because he was the last one available on the team roster. Now tell me, what chance did we have in beating PP's undefeated 3rd Doubles team in order to win the match. With Marks's solid serving and Pete's play at the net the first set went our way 6-3. PP's team got their second breath and won the second set 6-4, thus causing a match tie breaker. The tie breaker didn't get off to a great start with us losing the first 2 points. In fact, it got so bad that the score got to a devastating 2-8 in favor of PP. And then, Mark and Pete found themselves down in a deeper hole with the score going to 4-9. It was really looking bleak. Some tennis guru once said "that you can win by winning each point one point at a time". Well, I guess I now believe it. Both Mark and Pete pulled their white shorts up as high as they could get and pulled themselves back to an 8-9 score. Their opponents then took the ball and the Five Seasons "rag- a-muffins" broke their next two serves with the score now in our favor 10-9. It was Pete's serve. He served to his opponent's back hand and who immediately returned cross court hitting the edge of the side line marker. Pete went after the ball, with his back to the net and totally out stretched, backhand lobed the ball back in a desperate attempt to save the point. So surprised was his opponent at the "get", that he hit his return into the net giving Mark and Pete the 11th and winning point in the come from behind tie breaker of 11-9, to win the court and the match 3-2 for Five Seasons #1. A great win for Five Seasons #1! Congratulations!

WHOOP ASS...not enough

Captain of The "IT" Girls of Summer takes full responsibility for not packing enough cans of "Whoop Ass" as we found ourselves short 3 cans (Note to self: "pack half as much stuff, take twice as much cash" does not apply for tennis matches...). The "IT" Girls of Summer played great tennis Wednesday night at North Ridge, but fell short of victory 2-3. Thanks to our teammates and friends who came out to support us and especially to Roy, who we could count on to know the scores, especially during those damn tiebreaks. The "IT" Girls of Summer chilled after the match, the super cooler made its appearance, and the North Ridgeville police were again courteous enough to be concerned with our safety and "drive-by" our tailgate...AND all was calm.... The "IT" Girls of Summer have next week off, and will resume play July 12 vs. River Oaks 2....

Hey Girls...blast from the past...Brad and Pat...same as last year...ROAD TRIP? shall we? HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

Train keeps on rollin'

Even with a can of whoop- ass on loan to the "IT" Girls, the train ran over a determined Five Seasons team in 4-1 fashion. Grey Kennedy won first singles 7-5, 6-1 and remained undefeated. Todd Renzelman won second singles 6-2, 6-4 and is also undefeated. Chuck Buschert and Steve Poe ralleyed in the second set but fell just short in the third set breaker. After winning the first set easily at second, Volleyman and the Guru slept through the second set but won the tiebreaker easily 6-2, 1-6, 1-0. John Clark and Ron Wacker rolled 6-2, 6-1 at third. The guys will enjoy a well deserved break next week and will return to face second place Mayfield Village on July 12, and as of this date remain the only undefeated team in all of men's adult 3.5. The winners celebrating with red cups. Is Joe smiling because A. It's his wedding anniversary? B. We're winning? C. He's sitting with the Dickster?. Probably A! Grey looks happy. Steve is contemplating a rare defeat. Thanks to Lars for the pics!

Laughter and Tears

Lancaster's River Oaks senior team notched another one last night against Washington Court winning 3-0. Eriksson and Wacker rolled over their opponents 3 and 2. Thomas and Pare shot fish in a barrel 1 and 0. Buschert and Lancaster made the night interesting with a match breaker win 10 -8. And Mike made his famous wings in the Court Room and all was well at River Oaks. Meanwhile at North Olmsted the Wong Five Seasons team gave up another one losing 2-3. Tim Urwin blew away his singles opponent with a hooters score 0-0 . And Mucklo and Luengo, borrowed from Lancaster's Senior Team for the night and playing in their 1st 4.0 match of the season, had a good result at 3rd dubs.

Road Trip in the Works....

As The "IT" Girls of Summer load up for their road trip to North Ridge, always traveling in style... Our bags include: a borrowed can of... The Energy Drink....(9 p.m. match).... The Chanel racquet, wafts Chanel no. 5 on contact.... And last, but definitely not to leave home without.... ...The Super Cooler... ...did I remember to pack the important stuff?...