Northpinellas: Pinellas County rules K-Swiss league tourney

In a playoff with Hillsborough County league winners, eight men and eight women from Pinellas captured singles honors. Hillsborough earned three mixed doubles championships and three men's singles crowns.

It was a royal affair of sorts with Royal Racquet Club represented by five winners in singles competition.

Others represented were McMullen Tennis Complex, Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, St. Petersburg Country Club, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club, Largo and Morningside.

Royal winners included Lisa Freeman in the 5.0 division, Margaret Laird in 3.5-minus, Kurt Long in 5.5, Ron Wiser in 5.0 and Scott Kroeger in 3.5-minus.

A second consecutive win for top-seeded Freeman came in a 6-3, 6-4 decision over Margaret Roset in the 5.0 final.

"I had lost just one match during the season to get the top ranking for the playoffs," said Freeman, a Clearwater Central Catholic graduate.

"I think my strength is with my backhand. My opponents have a tough time getting into a groove with it because of the way I hit it," she said.

Freeman, who played basketball and tennis for Eckerd College, credits her competitiveness and desire as equally strong assests.

Laird just wanted to do well in the K-Swiss fall season, yet found herself the top seed among 14.

"I actually fell behind in the first set of the final before I became more consistent," Laird said. "After that, I think my endurance paid off and I was able to go after the ball better."

Laird defeated Allyson Iwanski 6-4, 6-3 for the division win.

Kroeger, in his first K-Swiss flex league season, lost just one of eight matches during the year to finish second.

In one of the league's largest groups, Kroeger was seeded 10th among 33 players in the playoff.

"I play a pretty aggressive baseline game," said Kroeger, a student at USF. "I like to push my opponent around the court and come in on a short ball."

Kroeger won four matches to reach the 3.5-minus final with eighth-seed Tim Grewe. Kroeger won 6-3, 6-2.

Wiser's 5.0 final match was similar to his last one against fellow club member Gerry Barna. The outcome was the same for Wiser, who squeaked out a victory in a 6-7 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 showdown.

"I played the No. 1 seed, Craig Broome, in a semifinal and won in three sets," Wiser said. "In the final with Gerry, you can see we are definitely evenly matched.

"I think what helped me the most was my ability to adapt to his serve," Wiser said. "He has a powerful one, and I just tried to meet it."

Long was the eighth and final seed in the 5.5 division.

After upsetting No.2 Andrew Yon in three sets in the opening round of the playoff, Long posted a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Randy Meisner in the final.

"I was fortunate that when I played Andrew, I played one of my best matches ever," Long said. "He's a good player, and I was a little lucky."

Meisner battled Long for the championship. "At this level, players are all hitting their serves pretty hard and are getting a lot of free points off of them," Long said of his title match.

"When you can return their serves, you take that away from them. I think one of my strengths is being able to return serves and not set my opponent up for an easy point."

Joining Freeman and Laird in the women's winners circle were Nadine Verdebout (2.5), Beth Frierson (3.0), Teena Marks (3.5), Jane Griffith (4.0-minus), Turtle Marshall (4.0) and Susan Hobbs (4.5-minus).

Terry Griffith in 4.0, Dan Mollica in 4.5-minus, Kamran Rezapour in 4.5 and Grey Tournant in 6.0 won in straight sets. Robert Starzl played three sets to capture the 3.5-minus title over Mark Mahler.

Hobbs teamed with Ann Worthington to win the 8.5 women's doubles in two sets. Jacqueline Calametti and Vicki Fox were victorious in 7.5.

The K-Swiss Spring League is scheduled to begin Feb. 24. Registration continues through Feb.6. For details, call 865-0615.

SENIOR NATIONALS: Ed Hamilton, in the singles division for 60-64-year-olds, will join two local men's doubles teams, a women's doubles squad and a mixed doubles team as qualifiers for the National Senior Games.

Hamilton secured a berth in last month's Florida Senior Games in Kissimmee. In all, 1,500 athletes competed in 19 sports.

After capturing the singles title, Hamilton teamed with Dave Krebs to win the 60-64 doubles championship.

Robert Allen and Andy Chau were first in 75-79 doubles, as were Phyllis Gary and Joan Holland in the 65-69 women's division. In mixed doubles, Carol Levin and Rick Whissel earned the 55-59 crown.

The National Senior Games are scheduled for July 14-28 in Baton Rouge, La.

ORANGE BOWL: Scheduled to compete in the main draw of the Orange Bowl Championships in Crandon Park in Key Biscayne are Ashley Harkleroad and Kelly McCain, 18-and-under girls; Alezandria Liles, girls 16; and Sukhwa Young, boys 16. Harkleroad is seeded 15th.

The top eight players in this week's qualifying tournament advance to the main draw, which continues through Sunday.

LEAGUE NEWS: With just a week of matches remaining in the Fall 60-and-Over League for men, Shipwatch Tennis Club remains unbeaten.

Countryside Country Club recently was handed its first loss by Seminole Lakes. The nine-team doubles league concludes with Tuesday's matches.

After two weeks of competition in the USA Florida Section Senior Women's Doubles League, three of the 10 teams are unbeaten.

Innisbrook, Timber Pines Tennis Club and an East Lake Woodlands squad have earned victories.

Following a holiday break, East Lake matches up with Timber Pines and Innisbrook plays Countryside Country Club. Matches continue through Feb. 17 with the league champion advancing to the state tournament in May.

Consecutive winners in the USTA Florida Senior Men's Doubles League include Countryside with Chris Likely the captain and Timber Pines Tennis Club with captain Forest Wiley in the 3.5 north division, Bardmoor with Bob Haggerman in 3.5 central and Countryside with Larry Finkle in 4.0.

Super Senior Doubles begin next month for men and women. Interested players at least 61 years of age should call Josie Doucette, (813) 862-1656, for the women and Al Heller, 397-2825.

A mandatory USA League Tennis team captains meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan.9 at Feather Sound Country Club.

There will be discussion on the inaugural electronic online registration system for individuals and teams and on the format for completing a match with split sets.

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