It all came down to the final match between the well-matched San Benito and Live Oak boys tennis teams in Morgan Hill yesterday. The Haybalers edged out the Acorns, 4-3, to push their Tri-County Athletic League record above .500 at 3-2.
“We pulled it out right at the end,” said San Benito coach Leanna Morgan. “It came down the No. 2 and No. 3 matches. All the Haybalers dug really deep for this win.
“We are young and we’re building. I look forward to seeing these gentlemen grow as they spend more time on the court.”
Brothers Trevor and Cameron Barker came up big in the singles matches for the ‘Balers in the No. 2 and No. 3 slots. Trevor defeated Acorn Jimmy Shedden in a three-set tiebreaker, 4-6, 7-5, 10-5. Cameron’s match also went to the third-set tiebreaker as he defeated Live Oak’s Kevin Parsons, 5-7, 6-4, 10-4.
“The Barker brothers are really good players,” said Live Oak assistant coach Miki Matsumoto. “Jimmy played a tough opponent in Trevor and he kept it close and didn’t lose his head. Jimmy and Kevin worked really hard and I was really impressed that they could keep up with them. Cameron and Kevin had the longest points; it just kept going back and forth.”
“Cameron came off court from playing Kevin Parsons and said it was like watching himself play,” added Morgan.
The Acorns (1-3 TCAL) won the other two singles matches with No. 1 Eric Matsumoto and No. 4 Danny Smith prevailing in straight sets. Matsumoto defeated San Benito’s new No. 1 Daniel Coffey, 6-3, 7-5. Smith beat San Benito’s Michael Coffey, 6-2, 6-2.
“It was a new lineup for us because we had challenge matches this week. Our new No. 1 single Daniel Coffey was working really hard on the court and he showed a lot of maturity for a freshman,” said Morgan.
In doubles action San Benito took two matches from the Acorns – one a forfeit – and lost the other. Mark Tobias and Michael Brigantino beat Live Oak’s Mason Lammers and B.J. Heinan in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. Haybalers Anthony Parrez and Derek Panger got the forfeit win as Live Oak had to default due to a lack of players. The Acorns No. 1 doubles team of Scott Alexander and Andew Wisneski defeated San Benito’s Ryan Grow and Dilion Grow in a three-set tiebreaker, 6-1, 1-6, 13-11.
“I think every win is a big win. We don’t go in underestimating our opponents,” said Morgan. “The No. 1 doubles match was a heartbreaker. It could have gone either way.
The Haybalers return to the court on Tuesday in Gilroy when they face the Mustangs for the second time. San Benito beat Gilroy 5-2 in their first TCAL meeting.
“It’s never easy the second time around,” said Morgan. “We’re going to have to really work hard to make sure we pull out the win.”
