Danielle Burke has the hottest hand in the Tri-County Athletic
League, and she’s only a freshman.
Hollister – Danielle Burke has the hottest hand in the Tri-County Athletic League, and she’s only a freshman.
As the No. 1 seeded tennis player in the league, she is looking for success not just in league but in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Burke can often be seen hitting balls at Ridgemark early in the morning or late at night with her dad, Kevin, or her high school coach. She usually practices about three hours a day in addition to the team practice.
“She hits the ball harder than I do sometimes,” said San Benito coach Ed Cecena. “Consistency is what she needs to keep working on. She has all her shots, and the technique is there.”
Burke, who plays year around, takes her classes in the independant study program to allow her to work her schooling around tennis practice and matches.
“All the girls saw her play last year when she was an eighth grader and were asking if she would be playing this year,” Cecena said. “She was impressive looking last year.”
Her dad got her started in the sport and has been her coach the last two years.
“I really liked it after he helped me out,” Burke said. “I’ve really excelled at the sport since he has been helping me. Its just been great playing with my teammates this year. They have been real supportive. We are all getting along well together as a team.”
Burke has worked a lot with the other players on the team to help them improve their games as well.
“She has been really beneficial to the other players,” Cecena said. “A lot of times, we will do drills where the four top singles players play against each other.”
Burke has some similarities to three-time San Benito league champion Phoebe Bachofer, who graduated two years ago, Cecena said.
“Phoebe was a senior when I coached her,” Cecena said. “Her game was a little farther along. But they both have excellent technique and both take the ball really early. They both are capable of playing an all around game. One difference is that Phoebe hit with two hands on both sides. Danielle is more traditional player – one hand on the forehand side and two on the backhand side.”
Burke, who began playing tennis she was 8 years old, has yet to lose a match this season.
Her closest competition is with the No. 1 player from Salinas, Kelsey Nicks, who also plays tennis year-round.
Last time the players played each other, Burke won 6-3, 7-6 in one her closest matches of the year. Burke was down in the second set and had to comeback to win.
“It will be a little tougher next time they meet,” said Salinas coach Bill Scott. “Danielle might have the edge because she beaten her twice already. But that is the foundation for failure. Both players are the real deal.”
Salinas’ original No. 1 tennis player was Marianne Lottie, an exchange student. But she went back to France after suffering an injury.
The Tri-County Athletic League finals, scheduled for Wednesday, had to be rescheduled after being rained out. They will be at today at North Salinas beginning at 11:30am.
Although the league is not known for its high caliber of tennis, Burke said she knows she will have to be at the top of her game to reach her goal, winning the CCS title.
“The teams I have been playing have got me ready for the playoffs,” Burke said. “All the girls in CCS play tournaments, so it will be tougher competition.”
Burke does have victories over some tougher schools this year like Carmel and Aptos.
Even though she’s only 14, she is ranked in the United States Tennis Association top 100 in Northern California. Last summer, she played on the U18 Blossom Hill Aces.
Burke already has her college picked out.
She was impressed with the coaches and facilities at the University of California-Santa Cruz after attending a Nike tennis camp there twice and plans to the school.
Her dream is to eventually turn pro, but right now, she has just one goal – a CCS championship.
