Atom feed
RSS feed
Taing rolls to fourth MRL title in a row
FROM STAFF REPORTS
May 4, 2007 - 11:29PM
© Daily Press, a Freedom Communications Newspaper
HESPERIA — Sometimes a one-day tournament can be decided by a player who happens to hit a hot streak. The thing is, Tenis Taing has been riding one the whole season.
The Sultana senior allowed little hope to challengers en route to his second straight singles title at the Mojave River League Individual championships on Friday at Hesperia High School.
Taing overwhelmed Apple Valley’s Donnie Wicks in the championship match, 6-0, 6-0.
"I was pretty confident coming into the tournament,” said Taing, who finished the season 50-1. “It wasn't easy, I was just on today. It was just one of those days."
As the No. 1 seed, Taing received a first-round bye and didn't drop a game in a second-round victory. Then it was time for a lunch break.
Afterwards, Taing eliminated Rim of the World’s Taylor Imperiale 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals.
With his serves, groundstrokes and net game clicking, Taing felt a long way from earlier this year. A serious groin injury put the senior on crutches shortly before the season, and he’s still taking pain medication.
"To win back-to back is a great accomplishment knowing that I came back from so many injuries,” said Taing, who also battled through a sprained right elbow. “I never thought about quitting, I put a lot of heart into it."
Taing was rewarded with his fourth league title. He won the doubles championship in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
A pair of singles players teamed to win the doubles title Friday. Serrano’s Peter Turrill and Evan Nelson defeated Hesperia’s Sagar Patel and Dawan Robinson, 6-4, 0-6, 10-6.
"I knew they had a good chance, but I thought they'd get beat,” Serrano coach Linda Turrill said. “So I was pleased."
The singles and doubles finalists qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Individual championships, which begin May 18.
SINGLES
Semifinals
Taing (S) d. Imperiale (R) 6-2, 6-2.
Wicks (A) d. Thoms (H) 6-2, 6-7 (4), 10-8.
Consolation
Imperiale (R) d. Thoms (H) 6-2, 6-3.
Finals
Taing (S) d. Wicks (A) 6-0, 6-0.
DOUBLES
Semifinals
Turrill-Nelson (Se.) d. Bishop-Archuleta (Su.) 6-1, 6-1.
Patel-Robinson (H) d. Tate-Long (Se.) 6-3, 6-3.
Consolation
Bishop-Archuleta (Su.) d. Tate-Long (Se.) 7-5, 6-3.
Finals
Turrill-Nelson (Se.) d. Patel-Robinson (H) 6-4, 0-6, 10-6.