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Local courts not lonely this month

By NANCY MORGAN
Published April 26, 2007

Tennis action has been heavy this month in the Pinellas area, from U.S. Tennis Association league play, weekly women's leagues and charity tournaments.

This week, Feather Sound Country Club's super senior men's 6.0 team of nine leaves to challenge for a national championship in the 60 years-and-over doubles league in Daytona Beach.

"I feel very comfortable about our team and our chances," said Roger Rogers, captain of the Clearwater team. "I think we're as good as we were when we won the state title last April."

In all, 16 of the 17 USTA sections are represented in the three-day contest. There are four sections each in four flights with the winner from each advancing to the semifinals.

On Friday, Feather Sound faces USTA section Midwest, then Southwest. Saturday is a matchup with Hawaii.

Rogers said Chip Frey will lead the charge of Feather Sound players, followed by Blane Sherk and George Ditzel. Frey has partnered with Ditzel, Tom Schultz and Tom Riley and Sherk generally pairs with Rogers. Bob Shuck, Dan Diloreto and Greg Miller round out the squad of three doubles positions.

Earlier this month, local super senior teams came up short in the Super Senior Section Championships in Daytona Beach. Sixteen women's teams and 24 men's from around the state competed for bragging rights and the opportunity to compete for national championships.

McMullen's 8.0 women and men each placed second overall, St. Petersburg Tennis Center's 7.0 women were fourth in flight competition and Safety Harbor Spa 7.0 men were second in flight action.

McMullen 8.0 women posted a 2-2 record with seven individual wins, five losses and 13 sets lost compared to Naples' 3-1 record with seven position wins, five losses and 12 sets lost.

McMullen 8.0 men were 3-0 in flight competition to reach the final with Naples, which won 2-1.

SPTC 7.0 women were 1-2 in their flight and the Spa 7.0 men were 2-2 overall.

Last weekend, 26 women's teams and 19 men's competed in the inaugural Stroke4Stroke Charity Tennis Tournament in Clearwater. In women's final action, Karen Randazzo and Jane Robinson beat Isabella Rango and Christine Weber in the 4.5, Susan Hobbs and Ann Worthington defeated Mary Gordon and Kim D'Amico in 4.0, and Linda Doty and Linda Sardano eliminated Kristrin Willis and Gina Larue in 3.5.

Scott Monett and Rick Workman outplayed Dale Alford and Tim O'Brien in the men's 4.5, Wendall Walker and Reinaldo Valor beat Glenn and Ward Johansen in 4.0, and Craig Emery and David Willard defeated Tom Keller and Kris Nelson in 3.5.

Seventeen mixed doubles teams participated in a round-robin format with the first-place team including Lynn and Paul Spies playing No. 1, Gillian Irving and Bruce Insana No. 2 and Judy Grim/Francine King and Tom Keller No. 3. Placing second were Martha Kirby and Gary Needleman in No. 1, Debbie Ramanda and Jerry Silva No. 2, and Joyce Smith and Bill Nelson No. 3.

Next week, local senior teams travel to Daytona Beach for Florida's Senior Doubles League Championships in 3.5 and 4.5 divisions. Participating in the three-day contest are Vinoy 3.5 and St. Petersburg Tennis Center 4.5 women's teams and Feather Sound 3.5 and Royal Racquet Club 4.5 men's. State winners qualify for national competition.

MORE LEAGUE NEWS: Winners in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area USTA Senior Mixed Doubles League were undefeated Treasure Bay in the five-team 7.0 and a 7-3 McMullen among six teams in 8.0. Both teams advance to sectionals in October.

McMullen players included captain Sandy Lamy, Carol Levin, Janet Loomis, Judy Siracusa, Pat Alfonso, Marion Murch, Janet Stuart, Charles Abell, John Beda, Pat Siracusa, Clark Higgs and David King.

- The St. Petersburg Tennis Center outplayed 25 teams to win the Pinellas Area Doubles League championship. The SPTC scored 219 points over the season, compared to second-place Bardmoor II 212 and third-place Royal Racquet II (211).

- Capturing the Advantage Ladies Doubles League title among 10 teams were the Sheraton Suns, which earned 136 points, surpassing the Aces (128) and Sheraton Stars (101).

Ilona Blumberg and Bernadette Grindley defended the No. 1 position, Jo Nichols and Joyce Williams No. 2 and captain Pat Grohman and co-captain Susanne Reynolds No. 3.

NET SHOTS: Claiming singles titles in this month's Safety Harbor Spring Classic were top seed Anya Coy in the women's open, Juan Segovia the men's 35-and-over and Andres Molina the 45. Debbie Hobbs was a finalist in the women's 45 and Jeff Chambers won the men's open consolation.

- Julianne Gruber and Dan Stefan collected singles titles in last weekend's SPTC Junior Easter Classic in St. Petersburg. Gruber defended her top seeding in the girls 16-and-under division and Stefan upset the boys 14 top seed in the final.

No. 3 Anastasha Worlds played to the girls 10 final and Alexis Franco won the 10 consolation.

COMING UP: The Largo May Day Rookie Tournament begins Saturday at the Southwest Complex for boys and girls 16-and-younger. Call 518-3125. ...The Spring Junior Super Series is at Countryside Country Club this weekend. Call 796-1136. ...The Spring Classic for adults begins Friday at Clearwater's McMullen Tennis Complex. Call 669-1919.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 07:06:36]