Avon Lake Boys Tennis Wins LCAAA Boys Tennis Tournament

Oh the weather outside has been frightful. OK, its a stretch, but from mid March snow to plenty of April showers, spring sports schedules for Avon Lake's athletes have been shuffled around like a deck of cards this year.

But hey this is Northeast Ohio, and it’s expected.

Mother Nature's wrath wrecked havoc on yet another big sports event, this time the LCAAA Boys Tennis Tournament earlier this week.

Not only were the Shoremen's home court advantage taken away, as it was being held at Avon Lake, but the tournament format had to be changed as it moved to an indoor venue, the FoxCreek Racquet club.

In the end, the Shoremen could've played on the moon, because it didn't matter to them, as they took home the championship, the fourth consecutive season they've done so.

Avon Lake swept the doubles championships with duos senior Ben Troyer and sophomore Greg Miller at first doubles, and sophomores Jack O’Neal and Jimmy Chase at second doubles.

In the second doubles, Jack O’Neal and Jimmy Chase downed Adam Pinchback and David Bartizol of Amherst 6-0, 6-2.

Troyer and Miller defeated Amherst’s Kyle Szucs and Jack Bartosh 6-0, 6-1 in the  first doubles finale to win their title.

Darkow’ went 3-0 on the day including his 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) victory over Vermilion sophomore Chaz Hansen in the first singles final.

Last season the Shoremen posted a 6-10 overall record, including 3-4 record in the Southwestern Conference. The Shoremen currently boast a 5-3 dual meet slate, including 3-1 in the SWC, but due to weather have had an incredible eight matches postponed this season, including three this week.

LCAAA RESULTS:

TEAM SCORES: 1. Avon Lake 6, 2. Amherst 3, 3. (tie) Lake Ridge, Oberlin 2, 5. (tie) Avon, Vermilion 1, 7. (tie) Elyria, Elyria Catholic, Lorain, Midview, North Ridgeville N/A.

FIRST SINGLES - CHAMPIONSHIP: James Darkow (Avon Lake) def. Chaz Hansen (Vermilion), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6). SEMIFINALS: Hansen def. Eric Stanczyk (Avon), 7-5, 6-4; Darkow def. Eli Thompson (Elyria), 6-0, 6-0.

SECOND SINGLES - CHAMPIONSHIP: Dima Bosch (Oberlin) def. Mark Ferber (Amherst), 6-2, 3-6, 10-8. SEMIFINALS: Bosch def. Ben Schmitz (Avon), 6-0, 6-1; Ferber def. Clay Jerge (Elyria Catholic), 6-3, 6-4.

THIRD SINGLES - CHAMPIONSHIP: Roger Peckham (Lake Ridge) def. Macklin Robbins (Avon), 6-3, 7-5. SEMIFINALS: Peckham def. Tim Villari (Avon Lake), 7-6, 6-4; Robbins def. Brian Hama (Amherst), 6-3, 6-4, 10-4.

FIRST DOUBLES - CHAMPIONSHIP: Ben Troyer/Greg Miller (Avon Lake) def. Kyle Szucs/Jake Bartosh (Amherst), 6-0, 6-1. SEMIFINALS: Troyer/Miller def. Austin Atkinson/Mamoud Al-Zeer (Lorain), 6-1, 6-1; Szucs/Bartosh def. Brian Jaros/Chris Devor (Avon), 6-2, 6-2.

 SECOND DOUBLES - CHAMPIONSHIP: Jack O’Neal/Jimmy Chase (Avon Lake) def. Adam Pinchback/David Bartizol (Amherst), 6-0, 6-2. SEMIFINALS: O’Neal/Chase def. Nate Martin/Tim Niehart (Vermilion), 6-1, 6-2; Pinchback/Bartizol def. Bryan Rivera/Sean Collins (Lorain), 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.