It was a tie all around going into the final round of play for YMCA tennis. All teams had equal wins and losses. In order to secure first place, the CLC 6.0 tennis team needed to win both matches on Feb. 7 at the Racket & Fitness club in Portland.
In the first match CLC beat Deep Sixers from Maine Pines, Brunswick, in all three matches 3-0.
Bill Babcock and Beth Morris in first doubles easily won their match 6-1,6-2. Jeff Nichols and Patti Corscaden playing second doubles tightly won the first set 7-5, lost the second set 6-3, and held tough to win the third set tie break.
Jay Morris and Colleen Trask won easily in the first set and as their opponents warmed up, Morris/Trask stayed strong beating their opponents in a close 7-5 set. “She played incredibly and hardly missed a ball,” said Morris of his teammate.
In the second match, CLC had to beat the Racketeers of Portland in order to advance to the New England Sectionals since both teams were tied for first going into play.
The first doubles team consisting of Babcock and Claudia Leighton lost 4-6, 4-6. Thus Nichols and Corscaden in second doubles and Bob Cain and Mary Avantaggio in third doubles had to win in order to advance.
Nichols and Corscaden won easily 6-1, 6-4. Cain and Avantaggio won 6-4, lost 4-6 so it came down to a 10 point tie breaker. Tensions were high but they squeaked through by a 10-8 score and won the match. Cheers resounded as the CLC team advanced to Sectionals joining the 7.0 CLC tennis team.
The 6.0 team qualifier for the men are: Jay Morris, Bill Babcock, Jeff Nichols, and Bob Cain, and for the women: Beth Morris, Patti Corscaden, Mary Avantaggio, Coleen Trask, Claudia Leighton, and Cindy Flood.
The YMCA is proud to have two of their mixed doubles team advancing to this new level of competition. We are all grateful to Lisa Gilbride, head coach and all the coaching and tennis staff at the YMCA for helping and supporting the teams.
This group has been together fall and winter 2008-09 and fall and winter 2009-10 and has been close to winning but has fallen short.
“It is very satisfying to finally win the league,” said captain Bob Cain. “With Jay at 75+ and Bob at 72, the men’s side isn’t getting any younger.”
Congratulations to all the players.