In the SOC I semifinals, Brent Potter and Josh Holbrook of New Boston faced off with Clay's Gus Oliva and Laura Zandonella. The New Boston duo won the first set 6-4 only to fall to the Panthers' duo in the second set. Potter and Holbrook rallied to win the last set 6-0 to take the match and advance into the finals.
The other semifinal matched Clay's Evan Keaton and Micah Redden against the Tigers' Steven Russell and Alex Williams. The Clay pair was able to win in straight sets defeating the New Boston duo 6-1, 6-3. The win advanced Keaton and Redden into the finals to try to dispatch another pair of Tigers and again, the pair from Clay delivered winning the match 6-3, 6-3 and capturing the SOC I doubles crown.
"We had a couple tough times at the beginning," said Redden. "But then we worked out the wrinkles, tried a new strategy and it turned out working for the best."
Redden said it felt great to win the SOC I Championship.
"It feels great," said Redden. "Didn't think we would make it here."
Keaton echoed his partners' sentiments.
"Playing tennis for two years and finally got to where I can hit a ball and get it done," said Keaton, "I feel warm and fuzzy inside."
In the SOC II singles finals, it was two-time defending champion Chad Pierron of Wheelersburg and Tommy Hempill of Minford. For Wheelersburg's senior it was just another day at the office as Pierron defeated Hempill 6-0, 6-1 to capture his third consecutive SOC II singles crown.
"I was playing well again today, just like in the sectionals," said Pierron. "Everything was clicking. I just keep playing the same way. I just keep on keeping on."
Wheelersburg coach Wes Bussey says that nobody's game (in this area) measures up to Pierron's.
"He's been in a league of his own down here. Chad's been the class of the area for three years. He's been the cream of the crop around here."
It took three sets to determine the SOC II doubles champion. Minford's duo of Levi Lester and Logan Conkey faced off with Wheelersburg's Alex Provaznik and Dillon MacDonald.
Lester and Conkey were able to win the opening set 6-3, but the Pirates fought back and won the second 6-2. In third set, Minford trailed 0-40 in the first game before battling and winning that game. The same happened thing on the final game of the match with Minford serving down 0-40, but the Falcons fought back and were able to hold serve to pull out the victory.
"The time (we fought back from 0-40) late in third set was one of the big keys," said Minford coach Jim Parkes. "I felt like the first game of the third set, when Wheelersburg was really playing and had us back on our heels a little bit, we came back and won that first game to get our momentum back."
BRET BEVENS can be reached at (740)-353-3101 ext. 242
SOC I
Doubles
Semifinals
Evan Keaton/Micah Redden (C) def. Steven Russell/Alex Williams (NB) 6-1, 6-3
Josh Holbrook/Brent Potter (NB) def. Laura Zandonella/Gus Oliva (C) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
Finals
Evan Keaton/Micah Redden (C) def. Josh Holbrook/Brent Potter (NB) 6-3, 6-3
SOC II
Singles
Finals
Chad Pierron (WB) def. Tommy Hempill (MI) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
Finals
Levi Lester/Logan Conkey (MI) def. Alex Provaznik/Dillon MacDonald (WB) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
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