Cierra seizes triple crown

Rick Devereux

Three up, three down.

That could signify a perfect inning by a pitcher. For Cierra

Gaytan-Leach, it meant a perfect day at the 12th annual Costa Mesa

Summer Junior Classic.

The 12-year old heading into eighth grade at Corona del Mar Junior

High won the girls 12s singles, girls 16s doubles and girls 18s

doubles in the span of about six hours on Friday.

“I’m glad I played the tournament, but I’m worn out now,” she said

after winning the girls 18s doubles, 6-3, 7-5, with partner Catherine

Isip. “I’m glad I did this and I’m glad I came out strong.”

The pair had to battle past former Newport Harbor High teammates

Vanessa Dunlop and Bonnie Adams to capture the 18s doubles

championship. Dunlop-Adams were doubles champions of the Sea View

League this past year and both will play for Division I universities

in the fall, but they could not get past Gaytan-Leach and Isip, 13.

“I think Cierra is really tough in all of her volleys,” Adams

said. “I think Cierra was really good at the net and Catherine was

really good at the baseline.”

Gaytan-Leach and Isip said before the match that their strategy

has also been Gaytan-Leach at the net and Isip patrolling the

backcourt.

“I’m usually the one who poaches more,” Gaytan-Leach said. “She’ll

hit the great ground strokes.”

The combination worked well in the girls 16s doubles, a 6-0, 6-3,

victory over Kristina and Joanna Smith from Laguna Niguel.

“It feels fantastic to win the 16s and 18s,” Isip said. “We felt

confident going into the 16s doubles final match and we felt loose

and ready going into the 18s doubles.”

Gaytan-Leach was prepared for the 16s doubles because she beat

Joanna Smith, 6-3, 6-2, in the 12s singles in the morning. The saying

that familiarity breeds contempt does not apply between the Smith

sisters and Gaytan-Leach and Isip, even though the four have faced

each other in previous tournaments.

“Sometimes the competitiveness depends on who you’re playing, but

against the Smiths, they’re really sweet,” Gaytan-Leach said. “[The

singles final] was competitive. We both wanted to win, and we were

both going to try hard to win, but at the same time we were still

friends.”

The quick victories not only gave Gaytan-Leach confidence heading

into the 18s doubles, but also some much needed rest.

“My matches were good, and all, but they weren’t really that long,

so I feel I’m glad I played them because they were good practice for

my 18 doubles,” she said before the 18s doubles. The practice paid

off, because she was able to concentrate despite a formidable

Adams-Dunlop cheering section.

“It wasn’t our day but they played really well,” Dunlop said. “We

didn’t step up and make them play. They basically played their game

and we didn’t bring ours.”

Joseph DiGuilio is another local talent that played beyond his

years. The 9-year old going into the fourth grade, who lives in

Crystal Cove, won the boys 12s singles by beating Michael Tan, 6-0,

6-0.

“He’s a pretty amazing player,” said April, his mother. “He’s

ambidextrous. He plays tennis with his right hand, but does

everything else like write and draw with his left.”