When Aaron Francis and Marquese Hayes first met, things weren’t exactly hunky-dory.
“I thought he was a little bit cocky,” Francis said with a smile.
“I didn’t really like him because he was beating me all the time in challenge matches,” Hayes said.
It didn’t take long for the Balers’ top two players to connect. In an individual sport such as tennis, chemistry does matter at the high school level. The high level of play produced by Francis and Hayes will go a long way in determining if the Balers can win the Monterey Bay League’s Pacific Division.
One thing is certain: While some of the teams in the division don’t have a clear ace on their team, San Benito is blessed with two talents who are good enough to play No. 1 singles.
“Marquese is a really nice, good guy,” said Francis, who started off the season at No. 1 singles but recently played No. 1 doubles with Andrew Regalado due to an infection on an ingrown toenail. “He’s a really good competitor, hits hard and I don’t play many guys like him in league. I know as a team we’re glad to have him.”
Hayes said Francis has been a good teammate and mentor.
“Aaron has become more of a teacher to me than an opponent,” Hayes said. “He has a lot more experience than me in terms of match play, and I’ve picked up things from the way he plays and approaches the game.”
Even though Francis has won three of their four challenge matches, he said Hayes’ best days are still ahead of him.
“Our matches are pretty close, but in about a year, I think Marquese could stomp me,” Francis said. “He’s younger and physically better than me.”
Francis, a 6-foot-1 senior right-hander, and Hayes, a 5-11 sophomore lefty, both possess potent groundstrokes and have the ability to hit winners from the backcourt.
Francis’ biggest improvement has come mentally, as he constructs points well to break down his opponent. In the off-season, Francis spent plenty of time working on his game, knowing he was the team’s top returning player.
“I’ve been playing year-round pretty much since the sixth grade, but this last year I felt even more motivated,” he said. “I’ve been hitting the ball a lot harder, and feeling kind of transformed. Tennis is a huge mental game, and if you’re not mentally there, your opponent is just going to stomp on you.”
Just 15, Hayes realizes the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical part. Born and raised in Texarkana, Texas—a small city near the Texas-Arkansas border with roughly the same population as Hollister—Hayes moved here in late December.
His dad, Demetrius, took a position as the worship leader at Sunnyslope Christian Center. Marquese, who plays the piano, helps lead in worship. Hayes is slowly getting adjusted to California, but admitted it was tough at first.
“California is a place where you always wanted to go, but when it actually came time to move, I had mixed feelings,” he said. “The adjustment was kind of tough, but it’s going well. I like the new team I’m on, because we’re all competitive and all play with a lot of heart.”
Hayes ran his record to a perfect 5-0 while Francis improved to 4-1 after the team’s 6-1 win over Alisal on March 19. Hayes has been playing tennis for six years, having been exposed to the sport by his older sister.
Demetrius played baseball and football in high school, but Marquese is carving his own niche on the tennis court. If Hayes continues to work hard and develop both physically and mentally, he could become one of the school’s best players in recent memory by the time he’s a senior.
“Marquese has been good in practice, which has been great for the entire team,” Francis said.
Hayes said the players have made his transition easier, and it’s easy to see how. In a crucial 4-3 win over Monte Vista Christian on March 17, the match came down to the No. 4 singles spot between the Balers’ Rafa Alfaro and the Mustangs’ Jacky Tsu.
Alfaro won in two tense tiebreakers, and he was supported by his teammates the entire way.
“It’s a great group of guys we’ve got here,” Hayes said.
Having played No. 1 doubles his freshman year, Francis worked hard to get to the top of the Balers lineup.
He’s been particularly encouraged by his teammates’ play, and expects the team to win the Pacific Division championship and play the second-place team from the MBL’s upper Gabilan Division for the league’s second automatic playoff berth.
Now in the twilight of his prep career, Francis plans on making the most of the season.
“It’s pretty rewarding being No. 1, because you worked hard and now feel like it’s your turn to help lead the team,” Francis said.
