FREEPORT’S AARON RUSIECKI reaches out to return a shot against Yarmouth on Saturday in the boys tennis Class B South semifinals at Freeport. Rusiecki and No. 1 doubles partner Sullivan Smith won their match and the Falcons moved on with a 4-1 victory over the Clippers. Freeport takes on Cape Elizabeth in the regional final on Thursday in Lewiston. ERIC MAXIM / THE TIMES RECORD
FREEPORT
It was 18 seasons ago when then first-year Freeport High School boys tennis coach Jay Harper led his Falcons to the Western Class C regional final.
The now veteran leader of the Falcons had another chance to celebrate after watching his second-seeded Falcons battle through nearly four hours of hard-fought tennis for a 4-1 Class B South semifinal win over defending regional champ Yarmouth on a windy, sun-soaked Saturday afternoon.
In a match that featured four three-set heart-stopping battles, Freeport (11-3) won the big points when it mattered the most, sending the Falcons to Bates College in Lewiston on Thursday for a regional final matchup with fifth-seeded Cape Elizabeth (9:15 a.m.).
“I knew I had some tremendous players that could do this, and today we put it together against a Yarmouth team that played so good,” said Harper.
Saturday’s Freeport win came down to two key matches. Tied 1-1 after doubles, Falcon Liam Gould was down a set and tied 3-3 in the second against Clipper Liam Ireland, who had defeated Gould during the regular-season matchup in three sets. Gould battled, winning the second set, 6-3, and holding off an Ireland rally from 5-1 down in the third for a 6-4 win and a 2-1 Falcons lead.
FREEPORT’S Sullivan Smith ser ves during Saturday’s Class B South boys tennis semifinal against Yarmouth. ERIC MAXIM / THE TIMES RECORD
“I had to play my game, play consistent, and go to the net more and win those points,” said Gould. “He was hitting good shots. Our matches are always tight.”
On the court were both the No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches. Freeport’s Clay Canterbury was locked in a tight match with hard-hitting Will Nicholas at No. 2. After Canterbury cruised in the opening set, 6-2, Nicholas rallied to win the final three games of the second for a 7-5 win to even the match at a set apiece.
“I sat down, had some energy blocks to refuel, drank some water and just told myself that I could do it,” said Canterbury moments after winning the third and match-deciding set, 6-2.
It was a key hold of serve that told this tale. With Canterbury up a break at 3-2, he trailed love-40 on his serve. But he battled back, forced five deuces and eventually hit a winner past a sprawling Nicholas for a 4-2 lead.
“I was able to stay calm and play my game in the third set,” Canterbury said. “It was a big relief as you saw in my reaction.”
Moments later, Wes Goodwin closed out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Shepard Shutkin at No. 1 singles to complete the 4-1 win.
“I am very proud of our kids,” said Yarmouth first-year coach Bill Shardlow. “They fought all year long and we are good enough to be competitive. It was a better year than expected. We try not to give up and compete. But in this game the better team typically wins. Freeport is a deep team. I wish them the best of luck.”
Doubles split
Freeport gained the first point of the match as the No. 1 doubles duo of Aaron Rusiecki and Sullivan Smith downed Yarmouth’s Olivia Sullivan and Joseph Wilson, 6-0, 6-3.
After a tough opening set, Yarmouth battled hard in the second, holding a 3-1 lead before the Falcons reeled off five straight games.
“It’s always important to start that way, to get that energy and get hyped,” said Smith, who is 13-1 this season at No. 1 doubles. “It has been amazing, the best season yet.”
“They were good for sure, we just had to out-consistent them,” added Rusiecki. “Beginning of the second set was rough for us, but they played well. We were able to get it together and pull it out.”
At No. 2 doubles, it was a battle between four freshmen. Freeport’s TJ Whelan and Liam Hornchild-Bear dominated the first set with a 6-2 win. But, Clippers G.W. Ruth and Miles Hagedorn came back strong, claiming sets two and three, 6-2, 6-1, respectively, evening the match at 1-1.
“We wanted to stay confident and stay consistent, and we did that those last two sets,” Ruth said.
“We wanted to keep it away from the net guys, as they weren’t as tall as we were, and when we got the ball deep we were able to win the points,” Hagedorn said. “We were a little bit nervous, but we got more comfortable as we went on.”
Now comes the next challenge for Freeport, with Cape Elizabeth coming off a 4-1 win over top-seeded Lincoln Academy on Saturday. The Falcons and Capers split this year, with Freeport winning, 5-0, May 2, and the Capers returning the favor, 3-2, on May 16.
“This is super exciting. Playing Cape, they are a good team with a long history. We felt that we would have to play them,” Harper said.
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