40s Sectional Wrap Up

I don’t know many people who were at over 40 sectionals so I don’t have a lot of inside information on this one.  It sounds like there were multiple good teams at most levels.  The winners were Austin at 4.5+, Dallas at 4.0, San Antonio at 3.5 and Dallas at 3.0.

The 4.5+ level was the most interesting to me.  At first glance seeing Austin, San Antonio and Houston all in the same flight I really liked Dallas’ chances.  Dallas had San Angelo, Valley, NOHO and Fort Worth.  Dallas did well, going 3-1 (13-7) on the weekend but were taken out by San Angelo in a tough 3-2 match.  As expected Bruno rolled with a 6-0, 6-1 win (that guy is unbelievable).  Looks like it came down to two third set tie breakers and Dallas lost both.   In the final San Angelo kept their magic touch in three setters, winning both of them, but that was it.  Austin took the other three lines in straight sets and Dekruyff did not disappoint.  That guy is now 29-1 for the year, losing one three setter at 9.0 mixed (18s).   I’d have paid to see he and Bruno square off but that didn’t happen.  Everyone likes to complain about ringers at the lower levels but you've never run into anything like these two guys.

For the 4.0s it was a traditional Dallas versus Houston final, although the better Houston guys had snuck over to NOHO to play.  NOHO squeezed by a tough FW team in their flight but otherwise sailed.  Dallas went undefeated in flight play in a lighter flight.  The finals were 3-2 Dallas.  

Did San Antonio have something going on at 3.5 this year?  SA and SA Wild played each other in the final and SA Wild won 3-2.  That’s some pretty solid depth at one event for one town.  The Dallas team went 1-2 but lost to SA and Austin who were both strong.  

Who is surprised that Bender won 3.0?  I don’t know much about him but he just seems to win a lot. 

There were only three teams in the whole event but this team did go 19-1.  That’s pretty good at any event.

I believe 55 and over is this weekend in Beaumont.  Dallas is sending two teams so good luck to all.

40s Preview... Hot in San Antonio

With the real season over, the more experienced guys sectionals is up next.  The 40s winners are usually the team that can find some singles players.  The doubles are usually pretty salty but the singles is usually pretty bland.

4.5+ Dallas is represented by Brookhaven/Harllee.  They are usually pretty formidable in 18s so they should do well.  They catch a break in their flight as it is Dallas West (Ft. Worthless), Valley, NOHO and San Angelo.  Fort Worth has a couple of 5.0s that I don't know.  I doubt any can match up with Bruno.  Anis is Dallas' other 5.0 so I have to like their chances to get out of their flight.  On the other side, I suspect Austin will come out.  I say that because while the DTA tells us that Austin is opposed to mid-season rating leagues, Austin gets to use them.  I suspect that advantage would be enough.  Austin still has the mighty Juan DeKruyff and I hope he and Bruno play to see who is the Texas 40+ big dog.

This flight is tough.  It has always tough Houston, Austin and San Antonio.  I suspect this will take something out of these guys.

For this reason, I'll take Dallas.

4.0 Dallas is represented by Fretz/Clark.  This team looks a lot like the Tony Le 18s team that punched their ticket to Nationals.  They have Corpus, NETX and San Antonio.  I like them to get out of this flight and probably play the lucky loser as I assume that will be the 4 seed.

It is a 3 flight event so a lucky loser will still make the semis.  This is the team I expect to play Dallas. 

The second flight will be either Austin or Houston.  Austin gets those mid-season ratings but it is Houston.  Looking at the roster, I say Houston but not sure.

The third flight will probably  be Dallas-West/Rigney.  This looks a lot like the sectionals finalist team for 18s and I have no reason to think they started sucking.  Looking at NOHO, they look like the likely lucky loser.

I'm feeling like a homer so I like Dallas to advance.

I'm really homerish this week so I am taking Dallas in 3.0 and 3.5 too but I didn't even open up the teams.

Good Luck this weekend. 

4.5 Predictions... My Usual Thoughts on the Fall League

I guess our readers are wanting some more.  While the pay for writing this blog is substantial, I still have to supplement it with another job. 

I don't have time to do a lot of analysis.  But since this is the all important fall league, I will oblige.  We all know that the heavy hitters really take this time serious.  :)  With the cooler weather coming, some of the better players lose their mojo so the fall is about as exciting as Combo and Mixed 40s.

Flight A:  My first thought was LB Houston/Moore but there are a lot of new names.  Lets see how well they work together.  I will take Oak Creek/Herget-Loose. to win with Greenhill Rossouw as runner-up.

Flight B: There are a lot of mediocre or bad teams in this flight.  Brookhaven/Harlee should win but Lakes/Way is a contender.  The rest should all go abut .500 beating each other in close 3-2s mediocre 4.5 tennis. 

Flight C:  This is between Greenhill/Rossouw part 2 and Oak Creek/Pribadi.  I like Rossouw to win this fight.

At first glance, this crop of 4.5 teams seems down.  There could be a non name brand team to emerge.  I do have to give the DTA credit in that they appear to evenly and fairly separate the better teams.  There is no flight you just scratch your head and say... how could they put that many good teams in one flight.  Kudos to them. 

4.0 Fall Predictions

Didn’t mean to leave everyone speechless with my recent post.  In efforts to revive the blog a bit and with Murray on leave, I will provide a thread to start the talk on the Fall 4.0 season. 

4.0’s get the Sunday afternoon spot and will be competing with NFL Sunday football.  That always seems to be a wildcard as to which players from each roster place Fall tennis more important than their favorite NFL team. 

I really don’t have the time to dig into each roster and give an in-depth analysis, so I will let you, the poster, provide us with that.  This is just my initial take, and I will be interested to see what actually transpires. 

Flight A –  winner: Oak Creek/Rich          runner-up:   McKinney/Kanchi

Flight B –  winner: Broohaven/Bartlett      runner up:   McKinney/Oh

Flight C -  winner: Greenhill/Ohl               runner up:  Springpark/Abbruzzese   (or vice versa)

Flight D – winner: Huffines/Robbins         runner up:  Oak Creek/Iyer

Your thoughts………

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