Rain a worthy foe at AACTA Tournament
Rain has been the topic of conversation at tennis courts too often this summer. With weather fronts taking up residence in the Mid-Atlantic for days on end and the wake of Hurricane Florence passing through this week, there have been plenty of cancellations.
In Annapolis, the AACTA Fall Tournament got off to a good start on Sept. 5, but rain fell over the weekend. Not willing to throw in the towel, tournament director Stacia Bontempo is trying to finish the last matches.
Men: open singles semifinal, Paul Webster def. Daniel Jaindl; open doubles final, Kemp/Stewart def. James Hosie/Robert Nuscher; 40 singles final, Nuscher def. Hosie 7-5, 1-6, 1-0; 50 singles final, Jim Senker def. Ron Blackstock; 60 singles final, Michael Strauss def. David Pessin.
Men's 3.0 singles, Stan Williams and William Ravekes advanced to the finals; 3.5 singles, Ron Blackstock and Jude Tanga advanced to the finals; 4.0 singles, Narayan Rao and Celestine Chumbong advanced to the finals.
Men's 6.5 doubles final, McCutcheon/ Spivey def. Baker/Dales; 7.5 doubles final, Lavinder/Patterson def. Flynn/Stickels; 8.5 doubles final, Bernard/Modderno def. Lucas/Mathews.
Women: open doubles semifinals, Cahouet/Mitterhammer and Jordan/ Whiteley advanced; mixed open doubles final, Hosie/LaHaye def. Bennett/Fici; 3.0 singles semifinals, Kaye Witting and Tamara Hayes advanced; 4.0 singles semifinals, Sally Christie and Margie Davis advanced; to the finals.
Women's 5.5 doubles semifinals, Keegan/Laabs and Kalber/Williams advanced; 6.5 doubles semifinal, Caddeo/ Moore def. Ruskin/Sturtz; 7.5 doubles semifinal, Christie/Skipp def. Davis/Sellars; 8.5 doubles final, Hoffman/Nicholson def. Bailey/Connelly.
Mixed 6.5 doubles semifinals, Fawcett/ Fawcett and Lovullo/Price advanced; mixed 7.5 doubles final, Caddeo/Patterson
def. Newcomer/Newcomer 4-6; 6-4; 1-0; mixed 8.5 doubles semifinals, Noori/Shafi and Lusby/Lusby advanced.
Indoor Tennis League: The Baltimore Tennis Patrons are organizing the Junior Indoor League for this fall and winter. The league provides instruction and competition for 400 boys and girls in grades 4-12. Teams are looking for post-beginners through tournament level players. Play will be on weekends at clubs throughout the Greater Baltimore area. For information, contact Garth Heagerty at garth_btpjil@outlook.com.
TENNIS ALLIANCE: The fifth annual 24 Hours of Tennis fundraiser will be at Annapolis High School on Oct. 19 and 20. This event supports the development of the Tennis Center at Millersville Park. There will be a free kickoff party on Friday from 6-9 p.m. and a compass tournament for mixed doubles on Saturday. To register, go to tennisallianceaac.org.
The Tennis Center project is under design now with funding from the county council in fiscal year 2017. The county budget includes $7.1 million in fiscal year 2019 for construction of the park, infrastructure, and outdoor courts. The Tennis Alliance will be responsible for funding the construction of the indoor facility.
AACTA NEWS: Teams are forming now for USTA Tri-Level doubles leagues for men and women 18-and-over. The season will run from October into December with winning teams advancing to the sectionals in Virginia Beach in January. Also, the Ladies Saturday Morning Doubles League will run from Sept. 29-Nov. 17 on Saturday mornings at Annapolis High School.
To find teams, contact Stacia Bontempo at stacia@bontempo.org. TOURNAMENT NEWS: Joseph Touzin (Annapolis) advanced to the consolation finals of the men's 70 singles at the Senior Slams Grass Court at the International Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, on Sept. 6.
Lucas Fuhrmann (Severna Park) won the boys' 14 singles Flight A at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park on Sept. 8. Aiden Gilroy (Annapolis) won the boys' 14 singles Flight B.