Re-Cap of 5/4/09 1^st Round Playoff Match vs. Birmingham

Congratulations to the Boys Tennis Team for a magnificent effort in Monday's 1^st round playoff match vs. Birmingham.  Despite being the lower-seeded team, the Pilots played with a lot of heart until the very end, overcoming adversity on many occasions on a day filled with inspiring performances.

Although the Pilots would struggle in their singles contests, special recognition goes out to Diego Mayorga & Hernan Suarez for winning two matches for the Pilots.  Suarez would actually fight through immense back pain, brought on by a gutsy performance in his second match of the day, to capture his match on his 3^rd of the day.  Ricardo Zaragoza also played through a painful popped blister on his right palm in a gutsy performance of his own. Finally, Danny Quinonez, recently added to the team, captured a total of 5 games in his 4 matches despite a lack of experience in singles play.

The doubles matches would be a different story, however, as each of the three Pilots' squads would capture two matches a piece, outscoring the Patriots 9 points to 4 ½.  Struggling to get on track in their 1^st match, #1 doubles Ignacio Torres & Marcus Macias would finish out the day strongly with solid performances that won them their next two matches with relative ease.  Meanwhile, #2 doubles, Justin Garcia & Jesus Valladolid, would take care of business in their 1^st & 3^rd matches of the day, adjusting very well to each other's style of play in their very first contest playing together.

The upset of the day, and the match that extended the Pilots' hopes until the very end, came from #3 doubles Victor Duran & Joseph Mejia.  After easily handling Birmingham's #3 doubles, they new they had a good chance at knocking off their #2 pairing.  However, things did not go as planned which put them in the position of having the immense pressure of having to pull off a major upset of the Patriots' top pair, who had not lost on the day, to deliver the CPR needed to revive the Pilots' chance of advancing.  Duran & Mejia delivered in a performance for the ages overcoming an early deficit vs. Birmingham's #1 doubles to shouts of support & hope.

Although the Pilots did not advance to the next round, their performance was truly incredible & something to be proud of.  Great job Pilots & good luck to the 6 players whose season continues in 2 weeks in the individual doubles playoffs!

INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS Round 1 - MON. 5/4/09 BANNING vs. BIRMINGHAM @ BIRMINGHAM

FINAL SCORE: WINNER:   Birmingham    SCORE:          17 ½ - 12