Windy win for Tigers

Just as the Central boys tennis team was trying to finish off the match Tuesday against Eureka in the Class 2 regional round of the state tournament, another opponent stepped into action.

The Tigers had to maintain their momentum through a long weather delay to post a 6-0 victory against Eureka, which had finished fourth in the Class 2 District 1 tournament that Central won last week in St. Louis.

With the win, Central will continue to host postseason tennis action. The Tigers will host the four-team sectional/quarterfinal round at Friday. Central will face either DeSmet or Chaminade, while Webster Groves will play Kirkwood or CBC with the winners to play for a berth in the state's final four.

The Tigers swept aside a foe it had beaten 6-3 earlier this year at the Sikeston Invitational. And there were plenty of hungry Central players to turn this match into a one-sided event.

"Today we played an excellent match," Central coach Bud Craven said. "I was very happy with the doubles teams. We had lost the two lower doubles the last time we played them. With three wins in doubles today, that really put us in control."

Central's Rob Weir lunged for a short shot during doubles play with Will LaFoe against Eureka oin Tuesday at Central High. The Tigers rolled to a 6-0 victory. (Kit Doyle)

The state-bound doubles team of David Berry and Patrick Duffy posted a 6-1, 6-3 win against Carlos Espinosa and Matt Farnham at No. 1 doubles.

The No. 2 team of Robert Weir and Will LaFoe won a 7-5, 6-0 decision against Lance Baker and Andy Ebert.

And Josh Hubbard teamed with Brandon Gonzales for a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles against Alex Richmond and Ryan Gartland.

After Central had won its three doubles matches and was just a few games away from sealing up the five match victories needed, a severe thunderstorm brought its whipping winds to the tennis complex.

The players retreated to the school for a half hour as the storm blew over without a lightning bolt nor a drop of rain.

Central junior Patrick Duffy returned a serve during doubles play against Eureka on Tuesday. Duffy won both in singles and doubles. (Kit Doyle)

But then the weather played a game of cat and mouse. As the players returned to the courts, the rain came. After it stopped and the players and coaches worked to dry the courts, it rained again. That sent the players back to the school about 50 minutes after they had stopped playing. When they reached the school, the rain had stopped but the courts were wet and coaches were trying to decide between trying to conclude the match at Central or going to the lighted courts at Southeast Missouri State.

The Tigers finally were able to return to the courts after 6:30 p.m. and finish off the match.

Among the most satisfied with the turn of events was Berry, Central's No. 1 singles player.

He was two games away from completting his straight-set win against Espinosa, which allowed him to avenge a tiebreaker loss in the Sikeston match earlier this year.

"I was afraid of getting off rhythm, of some other guys on the team getting off rhythm because we were grooving so well," Berry said of the delay.

He said he tried to maintain his composure as the clouds came barreling in.

"I just kept playing like I had; the wind really didn't make a difference to me," he said. "I had so much adrenaline. I was ready to go."

Berry polished off a 6-2, 6-1 win.

"I was very happy with David Berry today," Craven said. "He was very aggressive and took over the net."

Duffy and Hubbard were close behind with their singles wins as the Tigers clinched the match.

"Our team is doing exceptionally well," Berry said. "Winning the district and now beating Eureka 6-0, hopefully that's going to keep up as we get ready for the sectional."

Notable

The Central boys were making just their fourth postseason appearance and first since 2002. The state record book has the team 0-3 all-time in postseason play, and this is the first year of the boys regional round, which allows the top four district teams to reach the postseason.

CENTRAL 6, EUREKA 0

Singles

David Berry def Carlos Espinosa: 6-2, 6-1

Patrick Duffy def Matt Farnham: 6-3, 6-2

Josh Hubbard def Ryan Gartland: 6-4, 6-1

Doubles

Berry-Duffy def Espinosa-Farnham: 6-1, 6-3

Robert Weir-Will LaFoe def Lance Baker-Andy Ebert: 7-5, 6-0

Hubbard-Brandon Gonzales def. Alex Richmond-Ryan Gartland, 6-4, 6-3