Sea Kings on a mission

Steve Virgen

As the Corona del Mar High boys tennis team wrapped up its second

victory Friday, the Sea Kings kept their eyes on the prize: a third

straight championship in the All-American invitational, which they

are hosting.

The Sea Kings displayed their motivation with a 6-3 quarterfinal

victory over Brentwood at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center. The

tournament matches closely resemble the college tennis format, with

six singles sets and three doubles.

“We want to carry on the tradition,” Corona del Mar Coach Tim Mang

said of winning a third All-American invitational title.

Corona del Mar will face Calabasas in the semifinals today at noon

at Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club. The championship final is at

Palisades Tennis Club and is tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m., as

title-match hopeful Broughton of Raleigh, N.C. has a flight at 7 p.m.

Broughton faces La Jolla Country Day in the semifinals.

Calabasas defeated Newport Harbor, 5-4, in the quarterfinals,

crushing what would have been a Back Bay matchup. Be it the Sailors

or Calabasas, Corona del Mar remained fired up after winning its

match over Brentwood and waiting to see who it would face.

“We want to win it,” Sea King junior Carsten Ball said. “We’re the

host. We’re favored. It’s not a guarantee, but we’re hosting it and

that favors us.”

Ball spoke shortly after completing a dazzling performance in

singles and doubles in the Sea Kings’ two victories. He dropped just

one game in doubles. Earlier in the day, Corona del Mar defeated

Jesuit of Carmichael, 9-0. In No. 1 singles, Ball swept past Richard

Andrews, 8-0.

Ball teamed up with junior Spencer Reitz and the formidable Sea

King duo shut out Andrews and Nick Jarka, 8-0.

Against the Brentwood Eagles, Ball maintained his momentum and

scored an 8-0 victory over Daniel Freeman. Ball and Reitz defeated

Freeman and Evan Paley, 8-1 in doubles.

Ball’s victory over Freeman was impressive, considering Freeman

had just come off an upset victory over Nathan Stadler of Redondo

Union in the first round. Brentwood, last year’s CIF Southern Section

Division IV champion, defeated Redondo Union, 6-3, in a rematch of

the CIF championship match last season.

However, the Eagles had no answer for the Sea Kings, led by Ball,

Reitz and Wesley Miller. Corona del Mar also swept in doubles.

“CdM is just a powerhouse,” Brentwood Coach Mike Dirk said. “I’m

missing my No. 2 singles player, but that doesn’t matter.”

Miller, playing at No. 2 singles, took care of Tommy Normington,

8-3. Miller also teamed up with Alex Nguyen to earn a doubles victory

and the Corona del Mar duo of Brennan Roberts and Ryan Caughren also

won, 8-6, over Michael Riordan and Chuckie Huenegardt.

*--*

Corona del Mar All-American invitational Quarterfinal

Corona del Mar 6, Brentwood 3

Singles -- Ball (CdM) def. Freeman, 8-0; Miller (CdM) def. Normington, 8-3; Reitz (CdM) def. Riordan, 8-0; Roberts (CdM) lost to Paley, 4-8; Nguyen (CdM) lost to Huenergardt, 2-8; Caughren (CdM) lost to Elson, 7-8 (4-7). Doubles -- Ball-Reitz (CdM) def.

Freeman-Paley, 8-1; Miller-Nguyen (CdM) def. Normington-Lloyd, 8-3; Roberts-Caughren (CdM) def. Riordan-Huenergardt, 8-6.

*--*

*--*

First round

Corona del Mar 9, Jesuit 0

Singles -- Ball (CdM) def. Andrews, 8-0; Miller (CdM) def. Glass, 8-0; Reitz (CdM) def. Anderson, 8-1; Roberts (CdM) def. Jarka, 8-5; Nguyen (CdM) def. Yee, 8-6; Caughren (CdM) def. Wong, 8-5. Doubles -- Ball-Reitz (CdM) def. Andrews-Jarko, 8-0;

Miller-Nguyen (CdM) def. Anderson-Yee, 8-5; Roberts-Caughren (CdM) def. Glass-Athens, 8-4.

*--*