Sea Kings, Tars are looking down the road

NEWPORT BEACH — The Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor high school boys’ tennis teams both used Friday’s Battle of the Bay match as preparation.

CdM Coach Tim Mang is looking ahead to next weekend, when the Sea Kings will host the prestigious National High School Tennis All-American Tournament.

For Newport Harbor Coach Brooke Taylor, playing the Sailors’ Back Bay rival offered encouragement for Thursday, when Newport opens Sunset League play at Edison.

As for the Battle of the Bay itself, Corona del Mar emerged as a 14-4 victor at Newport Harbor High Friday.

“It’s been rained out the past two years,” Mang said. “This is a nice little cross-town rivalry. The kids know each other.”

The Sea Kings (8-0), ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division I, mixed around many of their singles and doubles players for the match. Sophomore Chris Damion won three sets at No. 1 singles, and seniors Ryan Caughren and Josh Kim both won two of three.

The doubles teams of Fabian Matthews and Bryan Buchert, as well as Dustin Hladek and Brent Pham, also swept.

Damion and Caughren both had to work for their first wins of the day, against Newport Harbor No. 1 Daron Arnold and No. 2 Josh Tuz. Had the Sailors taken both those matches, it might have made things more interesting early, but Damion and Caughren both toughed out 6-4 wins.

The wins helped the Sea Kings take a convincing 6-0 lead after the first go-round.

“It could have gone either way,” Arnold said of his match with Damion. “We were both banging it out, and he had the shots. He’s a good player.

“We go against [CdM] thinking we’ve got nothing to lose,” Arnold said. “That’s when we play our best, really.”

Arnold, a sophomore, is playing No. 1 singles for the Tars (2-3) until senior Jake Fleming (shoulder injury) comes back, which is hoped to be in time for league.

Fleming was unbeaten in the Sea View League last year.

“I’m not disappointed with what went on [today],” Taylor said. “CdM’s a good team. I saw a lot of fundamental stuff that I was happy with. I saw a lot of good things that I’m looking forward to the guys carrying over into league.”

Newport Harbor junior John Hutchinson, usually one of the Tars’ top singles players, hasn’t been able to practice much lately due to a toe injury. Playing at No. 1 doubles Friday, Hutchinson and Taylor Friend won one of three matches.

“It’s hard to play matches with two of your top players out,” Taylor said. “But I think we’ve responded well. Other guys have stepped up.”

Corona del Mar also starts Pacific Coast League play next week, at home against Beckman on Tuesday.

NonleagueCorona del Mar 14, Newport Harbor 4

-- Damion (CdM) def. Arnold, 6-4, def. Tuz, 6-0, def. (sub) Thagard (NH), 6-0; Caughren (CdM) lost, 2-6, won, 6-4, def. LoMenzo, 6-2; Kim (CdM) lost, 1-6, def. (sub) Gracia (NH), 6-0, won, 6-1.

Singles

Doubles -- Matthews-Buchert (CdM) def. Hutchinson-Friend, 6-1, def. Curry-Chase, 6-2, def. Cordeiro-McKennon, 6-0; Hladek-Pham (CdM) won, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0; Peyton-Mehr (CdM) lost, 3-6, (sub) Mehr-Le (CdM) lost, 4-6, Peyton-Mehr won, 6-3.