Boys tennis: District 4 AA doubles championships

Experience helps ’Sock duo

By WES BRINK - wbrink@sungazette.com
As sophomores a year ago, Loyalsock’s Frankie Casale and Chris Wyshock earned their first trip to the District 4 Class AA boys doubles tennis championships, but lost to experienced Ryan Baxter and David Brown of Montoursville in the final.

The Lancer duo looked like seasoned veterans just 12 months later.

Casale and Wyshock used a strong third set and outlasted Danville’s Peter Blankenship and Greg Bowser 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, to capture the 2008 Boys PIAA District 4 Class AA Tennis doubles championship Monday afternoon at the West Branch Tennis Club.

Both teams will advance to the state tournament, held May 23-24 at the Hershey Racquet Club.

“Last year we played Montoursville and they were really good and we just learned to stay in it,” Casale said. “I think we were just more excited to get to states last year but this year we really wanted to win it all so I think that really helped.”

Casale and Wyshock were in pretty good shape in the second set, winning two straight games for a 4-3 advantage. But Blankenship and Bowser won every point in the next game and later held serve on the last to force a third set.

But the third set would not be as great as the second for Blankenship and Bowser, who failed to carry the momentum into the match’s most important moment. Casale and Wyshock won the sets’ first four games and Blankenship and Bowser never threatened.

“That second set they (Danville) were trailing the whole time and I said to just get off to a lead in the third set and hopefully that would help and they were terrific to start that set,” said Loyalsock coach Rick Zimmerman.

Trailing 4-0, Blankenship and Bowser won the next game but Casale and Wyshock closed the deal as the Danville team only scored two more points the rest of the way.

“I didn’t think I played really well in the first two sets but in the third I really started hitting the ball a lot harder and I think me and Chris both played better in the third set and that’s why we won,” Casale said.

The PIAA team tournament for Wyshock, Casale, and the rest of the Lancers starts today vs. District 2 champion Scranton Prep at 2 p.m. at Bloomsburg University. The Lancers won the district team title May 7.

“I think last year they (Casale and Wyshock) were happy when they won the semifinal because they knew they were in states and then they won the team title Wednesday and I think they knew they belong here and wanted to get their second district title,” Zimmerman said.

Casale and Wyshock anchored Loyalsock’s top two singles positions all year as the Lancers went 15-2. Casale won three matches in the district singles tournament after he and Wyshock combined for a 29-5 regular season mark.

The pair of juniors beat Mansfield’s Andrew and Alex Makos of Mansfield in one semifinal Monday to advance to the final.

The championship match Casale and Wyshock’s first three-set match.

Casale and Wyshock won Saturday’s first, second and third round matches by scores of 6-0, 6-0; 6-0, 6-1, and 6-2, 6-1.

“We’ve been here before,” Wyshock said. “There’s not as much pressure. Last year, we lost to Ryan (Baxter) and David (Brown, from Montoursville) and they were really good, but we came out on top here.”

Blankenship and Bowser knocked off Hughesville’s Stephen James and Dan Fritz, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

Rall falls in semis

In boys Class AAA action, Nick Rall’s bid of earning a District 2-4 title fell short as the Williamsport senior lost, 6-4, 6-0 to Josh Palmer of Abington Heights in the semifinals at the Kingston Racquet Club. Palmer eventually won the district crown by beating Mike Sadari of Hazleton, 6-0, 6-3.

District 2-4 AA doubles

Finals

Frankie Casale/Chris Wyshock, Loyalsock, def. Peter Blankenship/Greg Bowser, Danville, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1;

Semifinals

Casale/Wyshock, def. Andrew Makos/Alex Makos, Mansfield, 7-5, 6-4; Blankenship/Bowser, def. Stephen James/Dan Fritz, Hughesville, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).



District 2-4 Class AAA Singles

At Kingston Racquet Club, Kingston

Semifinals

Josh Palmer, Abington Heights, def. Nick Rall, Williamsport, 6-4, 6-0.

Finals

Palmer, defeated Mike Sadari, Hazleton, 6-0, 6-3.