Boys’ Tennis: Laguna boys headed to final
The Laguna Beach High boys’ tennis team doubled down on Rowland Wednesday, the result paving the way to a title match appearance.
Top-seeded Laguna recorded a 9-0 sweep in doubles play in their CIF Southern Section Division 4 semifinals match with the fifth-seeded Raiders, and needed every point to pull out a 10-8 victory.
The victory sends Laguna to the Division 4 championship match. The Breakers will meet No. 2-seed Redlands in the final at 2:30 p.m. Friday at The Claremont Club in Claremont.
The Terriers downed surprising Chino Hills, 15-3, in Wednesday’s other semifinal.
“We beat a very tough team, which along with Garden Grove, are the two strongest teams that we’ve beaten all season,” Laguna Coach Don Davis said. “Our singles played great yet won only one match, losing five very close ones. Our doubles teams played exceedingly well, and Zack (Washer) and Sterling (Dudley-Bowen) won their third round match to clinch the victory.”
Valle Vista League champion Rowland had outscored Laguna, 8-1, in singles. The lone Laguna point was scored by No. 2 Tristan Krogius (1-6, 4-6, 6-2). The Breakers had dropped close singles sets by scores of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 and 7-5.
Laguna’s doubles play pulled the Breakers back into contention. At No. 1, Ryan Gee and Hayden Seitz won 6-2, 6-2, 6-0. At No. 2, Washer/Dudley-Bowen won 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-4, and No. 3 Adrian Azera and Ethan Gee won, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
The Breakers reached the semifinals by virtue of an 11-7 quarterfinal round win last Monday at Garden Grove League champion Garden Grove. Ryan Gee/Seitz (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) swept and Ethan Gee/Azera won their two sets at No. 3 (6-3, 6-4; Nick Besso subbed a set for Gee) in doubles. Krogius (0-6, 6-4, 6-1) and Stuart Webb (2-6, 7-5, 6-2) won two sets in singles.
The win avenged a second-round playoff loss last year to the Argonauts.
Laguna had opened the tournament with consecutive 17-1 victories over Segerstrom (Golden West League No. 2) and Quartz Hill (Golden League champion).
Redlands, which won the Citrus Belt League title, has cruised its way into Friday’s final. The Terriers blanked Lancaster (Golden League No. 2) and Del Rio League champ Whittier La Serna (18-0 scores), and Westminster La Quinta (Garden Grove League No. 2), 13-5.
Their 15-3 semifinal win Wednesday came against a Chino Hills team that finished third in the Baseline League and needed to win a wild-card match to make it to the first round playoff field.
“The team is very excited and is looking forward to playing at Claremont on Friday,” Davis said. “We play a very strong team, but we’ll be ready.”
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca