40s Sectionals Wrap Up

Looks like we did no better in 40s than we did in 18s.  In 4.5+, we effectively had two Dallas teams.  Both were very good teams and both were the closest to eventual champion Austin.  Both lost 3-2.  It appears Sweeney was a little closer by losing two 3rd set tiebreaks and losing 3-2.  Rossouw was more or less dominated in all three lines he lost.

I was confident that Dekruyff would go unbeaten as he is a beast.  As it showed, that was the truth.  He dropped only two games against Baker and Cechen... Combined.  Those guys are very good players.  I have to think Rossouw had a better option than Gound.  At least sacrifice him to DeKruyff.  You know the 5.0 has to play 1 singles.  Baker probably loses to Cohen too but had a better chance.  I just have to think there was a better option.  In the end, it probably didn't matter.  Austin had four guys playing three lines better than anything you had available.

Sweeney scouted well enough to know that he had to avoid DeKruyff.  Cechen is a good player but not at that level.  Lafavre had his chances against Cohen but came up shortin a third set breaker.  He loaded his 5.0s of Rich and Correia at Line 1 doubles and got through it in a tiebreaker.  Kiron/Pollard lost in three and Austin advances.

In the end, Austin was probably just a little stronger.  They got to play with mid-season ratings and we did not get that advantage.  One has to wonder if that was the difference.  I heard from someone who heard from someone that the DTA told them that Austin wanted no more mid-season ratings and that is why they move Dallas mens (still didn't move women because of TCD is what I heard... not sure why they don't tell TCD to move). 

In 4.0, Wiley's mighty 4.0 team got thumped at the hands of eventual champions San Antonio in the semi finals.  I had people say this team was extremely strong and expected them to go all the way.  Yet, they lose 3-2 but when I look at the scores they really only win 1 match because San Antonio walks off a singles line up 6-1, 5-2.  San Antonio must have had some great players.  Looks like he hadn't lost a singles line until San Antonio and then Mike Zackary gets beat 4&0 and his other player gets beat 2&1.  Just like Rossouw and Sweeney, Wiley learns you must have singles ringers.  Even without the singles guys, I thought Wiley could have used better doubles lines than he did. 

Wild Dallas made the semis too.  I believe they over achieved so I am not going to bust their chops at all.  They got swept 5-0 by Midland.  They were just thumped in every way.  After that, Midland took about the same pain (maybe more) than Wiley at the hands of San Antonio.  Wild Dallas had a huge highlight.  They took out mighty Houston by sweeping them in Doubles.

At 3.5, Bender wins sectionals for what must be over 20 times.  I don't follow 3.0 or 3.5 but I know every time i have looked at sectionals at these levels it seems like he has won.  I don't know what captain has the record for most sectionals championships but I suspect Bender may hold that record.  We all talk about Freeman monopolizing sectionals championships but he is a long way away from Bender's numbers. 

In the end, it looks like it was a bunch of good Dallas teams but not good enough.  We need to thank the lower levels as without them, Dallas was shut out this year. 

It is time for fall season.  We will hash that out this week too but fall is about as important as combo and mixed.  We play it because we love playing tennis not because it matters much.  A third of the league is merely trying to stay at their perceived level they can win (about 2/3rds of those aren't in danger of getting moved up anyway.)  Regardless, that is for another day.