When Windham’s Kyle Morrell and Fernando Leon-Pradl took the court Saturday afternoon for the No.2 doubles match, they knew theirs was a must-win point. Scarborough had already taken two out of three points and they had just won the second set in the No. 1 doubles match to force a third set. What the Eagle tennis players didn’t know was they would have to wait two days to finish the West A semifinal contest.
Fast forward to Monday, June 4, at the Portland Athletic Club with Scarborough needing only a point to advance in the tourney. The Storm’s Micah Abrams and Jack Cowie entered Monday up 3-1 in the first set and quickly won it 6-2. Morrell and Leon-Pradl suddenly needed the second set just to stay alive.
“We kind of got defeated in the first set and coach gave us a good talk,” said Morrell.
The pair bounced back and did indeed win the second set, 6-3. Meanwhile, Windham’s Nate Johnson and Justin Kuliga were already in the third set of their match with Nate Gove and Ethan McElwain. If the Red Storm took that set, the number two doubles result would be a mere formality. While Morrell was busy trying to win his match, he kept an eye on the other court.
“I didn’t really know it would come down to us,” Morrell said. “(Johnson and Kuliga) had to win and we had to win. When I saw them win, I knew it was up to us.”
Johnson and Kuliga took a 3-0 lead in the third set and went on to win the match 6-4, 1-6, 6 -4 to tie Scarborough 2-2.
“Waiting two days actually helped,” Kuliga said. “When we were at Scarborough it seemed nothing went right. We tried to play at the net and put points away but nothing was working. So it worked to our advantage having to wait. It helped stop their momentum.”
Morrell and Leon-Pradl won the second set 6-3 and they eventually took the third and deciding set 6-2, sending the Eagles to the regional final.
“It was a roller coaster between Saturday and today,” said Windham coach Wayne Martin. “What we did today was kind of like coming back from 20 points down in the fourth quarter of a basketball game. It was a huge comeback. We had some freshmen step up and some upperclassmen step up. The doubles teams were great. Doubles wins championships and they saved us today.”
On Saturday, Windham’s Dan McGovern took the first point of the day in No. 3 singles. McGovern made quick work of Scarborough’s Tim Przybylowicz, 6-0, 6-2. The other two singles matches went in favor of Scarborough. The Storm earned a pair of points when Nick Tolman defeated Adam Mitchell, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2 singles followed by Adam Saltz’s 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles over Windham’s Nick DiFiore.
“We had the advantage – coming indoors we were up 2-1,” said Scarborough coach Craig McDonald. “We played here several times. I thought we had a bit of home court advantage, but they played better. That’s all I can say.”
Martin was not bothered by the delay and thought it may have helped his team.
“The momentum did shift and the delay didn’t hurt,” he said. “I think the momentum really shifted when our first doubles went up 3-0 to start the match. That’s when we started to say ‘we can take it to these guys and beat them.'”
McDonald is disappointed with the outcome but pleased with his players.
“We did our best and Windham came out on top,” he said. “I think they’re experience playing in the western Maine finals the last three years came in to play in the semifinals. You could see it. They really knew how to play in the pressure situations. I think my kids played well all year and they showed me they have a lot of heart. I think they came up against a better opponent today.”
Scarborough finished the year as the second seed at 11-1. They have a lot of young players on their team and should be a force to reckon with next spring.
“We have two freshmen and a sophomore in the top three positions,” McDonald said. “We have some talent coming up to replace some of the seniors who are graduating – who played first and second doubles. So the future looks bright.”
As for Windham, they were scheduled to play in the Western Maine final on Wednesday against top-seeded Westbrook with the winner advancing to the state championship on Saturday.
“I think coming in, we were on our heels,” Martin said. “But I give credit to my players. These guys play all year round and they put the time in. It’s nothing I did, it’s what they have put in since they were in eighth grade until today. What they have done the last few years is what got them through tough adversity like they saw today.”
Windham girls knocked out by Kennebunk
The sixth-seeded Windham girls tennis team nearly upset second-seeded Kennebunk in Monday’s West A regional semifinal, but the Rams hung on for a 3-2 victory.
Kennebunk took all three singles matches, with the deciding point being at No. 1 where the Rams’ Hannah Johnston needed three sets and a late rally to overcome Windham’s Nicole Willey 6-0, 4-6, 7-5.
Windham’s No. 1 doubles team of Alyse Bartholomew and Danielle Lampron won their match 7-5, 6-1. And the Eagles No. 2 doubles team of Heather Bissetti and Audrey Quigley won their match 6-4, 6-2.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
