Teams advance on road to nationals

The first stage in the journey to the USA League Tennis national championships concluded last weekend in the men's division.

Treasure Island Rec's 3.5 and Seminole Lake Tennis Center's 4.0 teams produced winning results to advance to next month's West Regional Championships.

Emerging from the wild-card position in playoffs, Treasure Island Rec defeated Feather Sound Country Club and the Renaissance Vinoy with 3-2 decisions.

A 5-0 win Saturday over Phil Green Tennis Academy secured the local league title for TI Rec and its first regional berth.

"This is our fifth year to play in the league. We're all really excited," TI Rec captain Jim Bush said.

"George Pequignot and Bill Pullen have been with the team all of those five years, so it's even more enjoyable for them," Bush said.

Against PGTA, TI Rec relied on Ken Arlinghaus and Dale Eckholm for pivotal singles victories. Doubles winners were Roger Pryoy and Bush (No. 1), Brett Jones and Pullen and Pequignot and Steve Dohring. "We have exceptional singles players in Ken and Dale, and that takes a lot of pressure off our doubles teams," Bush said. "Ken's been undefeated all season, and Dale has only lost two. All through the season, we could count on those two to usually give us two points.

"The local league was a dog fight with real good competition. We had real tight matches, especially with Feather Sound. We hope that will have helped prepare us for the regional competition."

Rounding out the TI Rec team are Richard Cowan, Hank Houser, Greg Price, Larry Sommer, Timothy Wolfe and Jared Lagemann.

Seminole's 4.0 squad, with Dan Callahan as captain, has been together 10 years and advanced to regional action five times in the past six seasons.

A 9-0 league record gave Seminole the top playoff seed and homecourt advantage.

Scoring 4-1 wins over McMullen and Countryside set the stage for last weekend's deciding match with a second Seminole club led by captain Red McGarry. Dan Mollica (No. 1 singles) and Wendall Walker and Don Kirby (No. 3 doubles) scored the first two points for Callahan's squad. McGarry's team responded with a third-set tie-break victory in No. 1 doubles from John Beda and Mauro Rodriguez. Mike Collins and Scott Chambers (No. 2) clinched the match for Callahan's Seminole club with the third point in a third-set tie-break set.

McGarry's group received a 6-4 6-3 singles win from No. 2 Robert Schultzbefore falling 3-2 to Callahan's squad.

"Our local league was very tough, and the competition goes up every level," Callahan said.

"We have some team members that have been to regional, state and even national," he said. "That experience will be helpful for all of us."

Rounding the Seminole club are Doug Godhino, Richard Farci, Les Gustin, Gary Lucke, Jim McCook, Isaac Vicente, Jeffrey Mars, Tony Henrion and Douglas Allen.

In the second 3.5 playoff last weekend, Feather Sound defeated the Vinoy 4-1 to finish third with a 1-2 postseason record. The Vinoy was second (2-1) and PGTA fourth (0-3).

In the second 4.0 playoff match, Countryside Country Club edged McMullen 3-2 to earn a 2-1 postseason mark. Seminole-McGarry was 1-2 and McMullen 0-3.

Other squads qualifying for the West Regional, July 19-21 in Longboat Key, are McMullen's men (3.0 and 4.5) and PGTA's 5.0 men.

WOMEN'S PLAYOFFS: The second week of the three-round playoffs resulted in Innisbrook capturing its second win with a 3-2 decision over McMullen in the 3.5 division and Dunedin edging Feather Sound 3-2.

In 4.0, PGTA won its second match with a 4-1 decision against Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club and East Lake Woodlands defeated the Racquet Club 3-2.

Saturday's action will complete the playoffs. Innisbrook is at Feather Sound and Dunedin is at McMullen in 3.5, and the Racquet Club travels to PGTA and Treasure Island is at East Lake.

NET SHOTS: Girls 10-and-under No. 1 seed Jerica Coley of St. Petersburg defeated St. Petersburg's Danielle Collins in the final of the SPTC Junior Open at St. Petersburg Tennis Center.

Clearwater's Ashley Hungerford, No. 3 in the 14 division, upset top-seeded Caitlein Jammo of St. Petersburg in the championship.

Consolation winners included Jordan Ollestad (girls 12), Michael Plachta (boys 16) and Andrew Kissner (12).

Brent Wellman, the coach at Pasco Hernando Community College, recently signed high school graduates Katy Zaleski of Lakewood and Ruth Hutchens of Dunedin to play tennis this fall.

Competing in the rain-delayed Florida Junior State Closed Championships are area players Stacia Fonseca (18 division), Brianna Williams and Laura Gioia (16), Christina Liles (14), and Kelly Palmer and Morgan Basil (10).

Among the boys are Sukhwa Young, Ryler DeHeart and Goran Dragicevic (18); Marc Spicijaric, Evan Dufaux and George Navas (16); Clint Bowles and Jeffrey Dadamo (14); and Kyle Kunnen (10).

COMING UP: The Summer Classic at Seminole Lake Tennis Center is this weekend. To enter the tournament for junior singles players, call the center, 394-1733.

Innisbrook's Summer Classic, for men's and women's singles players, is this weekend. Call 942-5241.

Clearwater's Summer Classic, for junior players, is June 29-July 1 at McMullen Tennis Center. Call 669-1919 to enter.

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