Defending-League V champion Ward Melville emerged victorious in a battle of League V unbeatens, the Patriots (5-0) took down Sachem East (4-1) with James Vicari rallying to win the final two sets in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 fourth singles match to clinch it. Both League V teams will be tested this week, with non-league matches against West Hampton (5-0). The Flaming Arrows host West Hampton on Friday and Ward Melville will head to the East End on Tuesday.
No more questioning it, Commack is the top challenger to Hills East in Suffolk League I. The Cougars (4-1) defeated Half Hollow Hills West 4-3, Nima Moshtagh defeated Ryan Isaacs 6-2, 6-2 at fourth singles to clinch the match for Commack. Commack takes on three of League III’s best, Islip, Bay Shore and East Islip, in the coming week, then has a road match against Northport before the April 28 showdown with Hills East.
As for the defending Suffolk Champions, Hills East shutout Harborfields 7-0 and to throw salt in the Tornadoes’ wounds, Chris Hunter, who played first singles for Harborfields last season, defeated Max Tane 6-3, 6-1 at second singles. Hunter, of course, now plays for Hills East.
-Mark Macyk
In a battle of League III boys tennis unbeatens, East Islip (5-0) took down host Bay Shore today 4-3. Alex Portera and Adam Palumbo defeated Schuyler Hayward and Mike Baker in the deciding match at third doubles, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). Every match except first singles and third doubles went to three sets including third singles where Kevin Serina defeated Luke Taylor 7-5. 3-6, 7-5.
The Redmen, who now have the inside track to a League III title, have two huge non-league tests this week against Half Hollow Hills East and Commack, Suffolk’s top two teams.
-Mark Macyk
Looks like there will be a re-match between the top two teams in Suffolk League I after all. Commack (3-1) will take on Half Hollow Hills East (7-0) on Tuesday April 28 in Commack. Hills East won the first match 4-3, but Commack was missing several key players due to a religious retreat. In the rematch we could see a reversal.
The Cougars have their last prove-it game of the season this week, when they host on Hills West on Wednesday. The Colts were the Suffolk runners-up last season but will be underdogs against Commack.
Forget about the league, Hills East hasn’t even lost the county in four seasons, so if Commack can pull off the victory next week it will send some shockwaves. Commack’s coach Shane Helfner said not to count out the Cougars, they have their sights set on the league title.
But again, regardless of who wins the league Commack and Hills East seem destined for a collision-course for the County finals.
-Mark Macyk
Cold Spring Harbor tied Westchester-power Scarsdale 4-4 in non-league tennis action yesterday. The Seahawks won swept the four singles matches so going by Suffolk rules they would have won, Nassau rules they would have lost.
The Seahawks have now defeated Chaminade 7-0, St. Anthony's 5-2 and won scrimmages against Hills East, Hills West and Commack. They'll continue Nassau play this week and also take on Horace Mann in non-league action.
After looking for challenges all over the region, you have to wonder if any Long Island team will beat CSH this season.
-Mark Macyk
There’s a little change from the post below about Suffolk League III. Turns out Sayville fielded an illegal lineup last week against East Islip so Section XI has reversed the result. Instead of 6-1 Sayville, its 4-3 EI. So its East Islip and Bay Shore are undefeated at the top of the division.
The Islip dynasty looks like its officially over, the Buccaneers lost 7-0 to East Islip yesterday. Ignore the post from earlier this week, League III actually looks like this:
East Islip 4-0
Bay Shore 3-0
West Islip 3-2
Connetquot 1-2
Islip 1-3
Sayville 1-3
Connetquot won its first league match yesterday taking down West Islip 4-3 with Mike Kaiola and Andrew Cannon taking down Don Conste and Chris Cameses 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the deciding match at third doubles.
A League title is going to mean a lot to whoever wins because, barring an injury, none of these teams are going to get past League I’s best. Half Hollow Hills East handed Bay Shore its first loss of the season 7-0 the other day. Bay Shore and East Islip both take next week off for Spring Break then square off on April 15 in a battle of the unbeatens.
-Mark Macyk
Today's highlights: Ward Melville and West Hampton keep on rolling, no surprises in League I and a couple of undefeated squads emerge in Nassau Conference III
Bayport-Blue Point was one team with a chance to shake up the status quo in Suffolk League V, but defending-champion, and County Quarterfinalist, Ward Melville improved wasn’t spooked by the Phantoms, following the lead of top singles player Ben Coman, who defeated Matt Richards 6-0, 6-1 to a 6-1 victory. Bayport-Blue Point falls to 1-2 with the loss.
It now looks like the most likely team to put down the Patriots is Sachem North. The Flaming Arrows improved to 3-0 in the League with 6-1 lead over Miller Place. Dylan Roberts started the charge with a 6-0, 6-2 first singles win over Kenny Gaudio.
Patchogue-Medford earned its first league win, as the Raiders pillaged Comsewogue 6-1 thanks in part to a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 first doubles win by Brandon Alevas and Dan Stoll over Travis Frank and Sean Dougherty. Comsewogue went undefeated in League VI last season but hasn’t won yet in League V.
In League VI Mt. Sinai and Stony Brook are emerging as threats to take home the crown. Adam Pere defeated Charles Theori 6-2, 6-1 at fourth singles as Mt. Sinai shutout Bellport 7-0. Stony Brook continued its undefeated season with a 6-1 win over Middle Country.
Westhampton continued its dominance in League VII, defeating Southampton 6-1. Mike Hammond and J.D. Sipala defeated Theo Pinto and Tommy Gallo 6-1, 7-5 at second doubles for the Hurricanes.
East Hampton is traditionally League VII’s second best team, but that may change this season. Eric Sumanaru defeated Jack Newberger 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in first singles to clinch a 4-3 victory for Longwood over the Bonackers. Neither of these teams will take down East Hampton, the Hurricanes shut them both outlast week.
In League VIII Mattituck is making a bid to move up, Kim Young defeated Peter Deleon 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2) in a thriller to clinch a 4-3 victory for Mattituck over previously undefeated Shoreham-Wading River. Mattituck is now 3-0 in the league. The league title might be on the line when the two squads meet again on April 27 in Mattituck.
And there were no surprises in League I as Commack, Half Hollow Hills East and Half Hollow Hills West won 7-0 against Harborfields, Whitman and Northport, respectively.
Suffolk’s best league might also be its most boring, team-wise, for the rest of the regular season, at least. There is a clear divide between the top three teams and the bottom three teams and there’s also a clear divide between Hills West and Commack and Hills East. Hills East barely squeaked by Commack when the met last week and according to Newsday’s schedules they won’t meet again in the regular season. So while Hills East will likely take down the regular season title, expect the Cougers to be out for blood in a potentially rematch in the County Finals.
And after getting underway yesterday some league play continued in Nassau today.
Roslyn looks like they will be a force in Conference I. Chad Levy and Matt Kline defeated Evan Glasner and Boron Saraf 6-4, 6-3 at first doubles as the Bulldogs won their first game of the year 6-1 over Great Neck North.
Unfortunately for Roslyn and everyone else in League I Cold Spring Harbor still looks unbeatable. The Seahawks continued their Long Island Tour, shutting out Chaminade, a team that has won 24 of the past 29 CHSAA titles. That loss bodes well for St. Anthony’s, the only team besides Chaminade to win a title in that time. The Friars managed to take two games from the Seahawks last week.
Andrew Yaraghi defeated Stephan Tolila 6-0, 6-2 as Friends Academy (1-1) defeated Bellmore JFK in Conference II action.
Mepham improved to 2-0 in Nassau Conference III as the Brothers Kanerak, David and Andrew, defeated Bhavya Shah and Sylan Stills 6-0, 6-1 in the Pirates 6-1 win over Bethpage.
Hicksville also improved to 2-0, following the lead of Yong Choi, who defeated J.P. Cardon 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 at first singles, for a 6-1 win over Carey.
This is just a sampling of some of today’s best in Long Island Tennis. For full results click here.
-Mark Macyk