Week 3 was fraught with the threat of rain, gloom and doom. The player’s were unsure of the MAPTA Weather Advisory Committee’s (“MWAC”) decision to play and we received many emails requesting the cancellation of play or just plain down-right complaints. Here are a handful of quotes taken directly from their emails:
- “Cancel it, it is going to be pouring”
- “I’m playing a drinking game. Every time the rain is louder than my TV I chug. It’s been a long afternoon”
- “Wearing the high tops if we play”
- “It’s pouring at my house and not just the wine”
- “There is so much flooding I am not sure I can make it tonight”
- “Are you guys f…in nuts, this sport is going straight into the sh*tter!”
- “My Benz does not do rain”
Needless to say the MWAC prognosticators got this one right, and for the most part, playing conditions were perfect for a late October evening.
WCC won their third straight to start the season and although Vic Mead had their chances to gain their first point of the season, WCC was able to shut them down. Captain Tom, put his 8 available players in some sort of mixer and he came out on Court 1 with Vlatko and took all three sets over Justin Poletti and Mike Ashley. On court 2, Hank Oberly teamed up a with a dinged up Bruce Sopko and then won a thrilling three setter over David Hissey and Bob Bolling. On court 3, the former hapless duo of Keith Studnick and Jim Ryan found their mojo and took all three sets over the Maroney brothers, taking 14 of the last 15 games. On court 4, HG and Jake Miller in Vic Mead fashion pulled out a three setter over Mike “I am A Lob Machine” Reckmeyer and Paul McCabe to secure their first court of the season.
Merion a team that formerly did not travel well took their band of brothers on the road to Kennett and eecked out a tight win over Kennett. Merion’s Greg Eger and Chip Morrow defeated Andrew Pogonyi and Brian Zansitis, dropping only 5 games in the process. Not to be outdone, Chas Burkhart and Jeff Lyon defeated Matt Alicknavith and Ken Goddu on Court 2, only dropping 2 games in this contest. Kennett’s 3 & 4 teams battled back to get a crucial point for Kennett but could not overcome the six set and 29 game deficit they were handed to them, giving Merion the W.
P-Cricket won their first match of the season, taking three courts from Martins-2. On Court 1, Dan Greenwood hitched his saddle to one of D1’s hottest players and former “Abba Fan Club Member” Jerry Beirne to take on the Redpath and Hyde duo on Court 1. At first glance, Dan’s decision appeared to be genius as they stunned the crowd and took the first set. Unfortunately, they dropped the next 2 sets winning only 2 games. At the conclusion of the match, Captain Dan was heard singing Dancing Queen. Jeff Rexford and Tom Harris pulled out a three setter over Carter and ? on court 2. Ritesh and John Sabia, Jr. took the first two sets over Jim Small and Tim Ross to seal the victory for Cricket.
Greenville remains undefeated and pulled off three courts off of Overbrook. On Court 1, Overbrook’s Steve “could he be this years most improved player” Hall teamed up with Tom Burt and won a tight three setter over former Overbrook Pro, Simon Peppiatt and Todd Marvin. The Dana “The Gloved One” Walker and Chris Donoho fought off a match point in the third set to claim the court and the team victory over Andy Tomson and John Phelan. Shaw Taylor and Mark Centrella won the third set of their hard fought match for Greenville over Eric(k)s Niesen and Fay.
Can anyone stop the path of destruction that the Nowlan’s have left in their wake over the past year? Appearantly not, as they cruised to a straight set victory over Andrew Sorrentino and Drew Friel. That would be the only court P-Country would win for the night as Aronimink defeated P-Country 3 courts to 1. On Court 2, Neal “I found the special sauce” Bozentka and Cliff McLaughlin stormed back from last weeks dismal performance to claim the decisive third set over Clay Hardon and Andrew Hocker. On Court 3, Tim Curvan and Gerry Farley dropped their first set to J.D. Cassidy and Norm Liedtke but managed to win the next two sets 2 and 2. On Court 4, Parker Sherry and Jeff Jansen gave up a total of 4 games to Garnder Walling and Hoe Williamson.
Over at Wallingford, where money may not buy you love but it sure can buy you a premier paddle team, Mike Furman and Jeff Shrager lost a tough fought three setter to Scott Falatek and Greg Donches on court 1. Mike “Mr. Forehand” McGrath teamed up with Jack Stanton and won three tough sets over Paul Nofer and David Goldberg. Next up for Wallingford is Waynesborough, which should be a good one.
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