Rhodes’ call becomes real

NEWPORT BEACH — Parker Rhodes was back at it Friday at the 19th annual Balboa Bay Club Junior Tennis Tournament.

He came in the early afternoon to watch his friend and fellow Corona del Mar resident, Chris Damion, play in the boys’ 18 singles final in the tournament also known as the “War by the Shore.” Damion fell to Sanghoon Song of Korea, 6-4, 7-5.

“That’s all right, Chris,” Rhodes playfully told his friend after the match. “That’s all right. You got second place. Two second-places today.”

Just hours later, Rhodes made his prediction come true. He and Chad Sigler of Irvine topped Damion and CdM’s Ryan Peyton in a light-hearted boys’ 18 doubles final, 6-4, 6-4.

Rhodes has played plenty at the tournament over the years; he and Damion won the boys’ 16 doubles title two years ago. But that was before Rhodes, who played tennis at CdM his freshman and sophomore years, spent eight months at a boarding school in Ogden, Utah.

Rhodes said he played on the Ogden High tennis team and won a Utah state title in singles. He returned to CdM last month and said he’s had a busy summer playing tennis.

So, will the colorful player with the red hair return to CdM for his senior year?

“I think I might go back to CdM, maybe, or maybe do independent study,” Rhodes said. “Probably CdM. We’ll see.”

The Sea Kings could probably use Rhodes’ talents in doubles. He showed them off against Damion and Peyton, slamming plenty of overheads and spinning plenty of volleys back over the net.

There are also few players more animated on the court. Rhodes made exaggerated yells on many of his ground strokes. At one point, after Sigler made a nice cross-court lob shot, Rhodes came up to give his partner a big hug.

It all worked. Rhodes and Sigler broke Damion’s serve in the fifth game of the first set and made it hold up, then took a 5-1 lead in the second set.

Damion and Peyton rallied to within 5-4. At one point, Damion nearly flattened Rhodes at the net on a powerful forehand. But Sigler held serves to close it out.

“I think I’m playing pretty well,” Rhodes said. “I’ve got to work on my serve a little bit, but my volleys and ground strokes are doing well ... I got to practice in Utah a couple of times a week, so I didn’t really lose a lot. It’s nice coming back and playing pretty well.”

Rhodes and Costa Mesa resident Charlie Alvarado, who watched the doubles final, are heading to Deerfield, Ill. this week for the Midwest Open Championships.

“We’re going to win doubles,” Rhodes said.

Damion, meanwhile, said he was happy to see his friend playing so well.

“I kind of wanted to win, but I’m so much happier to know that he’s playing really well,” Damion said. “That’s going to make our high school team stronger. I’d rather see him play well and beat me, than me beat him badly. I like to see my friends do well.

“... It’s just weird [playing against Rhodes]. I know what to do against him, but I can’t do it. His overheads are too good.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.