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Plant City Tennis Matches Get A Bit Crazy

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

PLANT CITY - Right down the line the Plant City-Durant season opener in boys tennis was pretty clear-cut.

Then it got crazy.

Feb. 17 at Walden Lake, the Raiders showed up strong and easily defeated Durant 7-0. The five singles matches were over so quickly that by the time doubles began, Plant City had already clinched victory.

With that in mind, Raider head coach Dale Rice decided to give some doubles action to a pair of players who normally would be reserves.

"I figured this would be a great time to get them some experience. They're both soccer players really," Rice said of Robin Hurtado and Chris Sullivan.

The duo, who thought they would just be spectators heading into the day, got their first high school tennis experience all right - two hours and 15 minutes worth.

Against Durant's Craig Bearison and Mel Yepes, also not regular starters, the Plant City duo won in a match that went just about as long as a three-setter can go. The score was 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 with the third-set tiebreaker going to the extreme as well. The final tiebreak score was 16-14.

"Why not - I've got all day," said Rice, acknowledging the strange circumstances. Generally, when a match is already decided, the doubles will be reduced to pro sets, with the first team to eight games winning.

Plant City had things wrapped up by 4 p.m., an hour after the match started. The No. 2 doubles slugfest did not conclude until 6:30 p.m.

"Hey, that's what it's all about. It's something those guys will never forget, that's for sure."

The No. 1 match was also intriguing, as Kyle Madill represented the Raiders. Madill is a baseball standout but also is a great tennis player, and he won 6-0, 6-0. Rice said that as long as Madill gets in four matches during the tennis season, he will be eligible for district play at the end of the schedule.

Dustin Hinson, the normal No. 1, won 6-1, 6-0, and Trent Lott and Drew Balliet both won 6-0, 6-0. At No. 4, Max Girling won 6-0, 6-3.

Durant's girls team beat Plant City in a match played Feb. 17 at River Hills. Transfer Kara Cecil, an Ohio State commit, showed her talents with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Plant City's Arielle Rollyson.

"She's consistent, she's powerful, and this ain't her first time at the rodeo. You can tell she's played a lot of matches," Plant City girls coach Gary Brady said.

The Cougars won 5-2 with two pivotal matches both going their way, including Jane Nappi's 6-2, 0-6, 11-9 win over Rebecca Sperry at No. 2 singles and No. 4 Erika Wardzinski's 7-6, 6-3 victory over Plant City freshman Maddy Peterson.

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