Doubles pairing will open with semifinal round Friday morning at
Everett Alvarez
SALINAS
The top doubles pairing this season for the ‘Balers was Jon Rudolfs and Michael Jensen, and after day one of the Tri-County Athletic League Finals they’re the only two remaining from the San Benito High boys tennis team.
Rudolfs and Jensen earned the No. 2 seed in the doubles bracket at TCAL’s Thursday, and received a bye in the first round as a result. In the second round, the ‘Baler pair defeated a team from Gilroy High, although official scores were not reported at press time.
Rudolfs and Jensen will now square off in the semifinal round against an opposing TCAL doubles team. Head coach Chris Yoder said he was unsure as to which team they’d be up against, although he noted the second day of the TCAL Finals will commence at 9 a.m., Friday at Everett Alvarez High in Salinas.
“They looked pretty good,” Yoder said. “I like their chances tomorrow.”
If Rudolfs and Jensen win the doubles title, the duo will advance to the Central Coast Section championships and become the first individuals to advance since singles player Eddie Barrios in 2000.
San Benito’s second doubles team of Conner Bray and Tony Culler won their first round match against Watsonville before falling in the second round to a doubles team from Salinas.
In singles, Derek Panger and Mark Tobias were both eliminated from the TCAL Finals after losses to Salinas’ Farren Casad and John Hackbert, respectively.
Day two of the TCAL Finals will begin at 9 a.m. with the semifinal round. The championship finals are expected to start at 11 a.m.
