GHS boys tennis slammed by Salinas for second time, 4-3
GILROY – With Thursday’s T-CAL tennis match knotted at 3-3 and Gilroy’s eight-game league winning streak in jeopardy, the only bout remaining was at No. 4 singles between Mustangs’ junior Mark Hsieh and Salinas’ Tim Contafonti.
After splitting the first two sets – Hsieh won the first 6-1 and lost the second in a tiebreaker 6-7 (9-11) – the match was moved from a side court to the center stage at Gilroy High. But Hsieh fell behind early and could not recover – allowing Contafonti to steal the third set, 6-2.
“It’s different,” said Hsieh of playing on center court. “The first set I think he underestimated me. He was trying to hit all winners. He basically won the first set for me… I was still playing well and he was playing really well.”
It was the second time Salinas (7-3 in T-CAL) beat Gilroy (8-2 in T-CAL) this season in the brand new three-match league format – making for a crucial stretch run for both teams with five matches remaining.
“He had his opportunities. Maybe he got a little tight, I don’t know. That was a big match and he hasn’t been involved in a lot of them,” said head coach Chris Yoder of Hsieh. “He did all he was capable of doing. I’m proud of him. Just making into a third set and having a chance was an accomplishment in itself.”
None of the Gilroy singles players could pull off an upset to alter the outcome. Senior No. 1 singles Robbie Marques became only the second player this year to win a game off Cowboys’ big man John Pettit – falling 6-0, 6-1.
“I stopped all play, put my hands in the air and everyone clapped,” said Marques of winning his first game off Pettit in three attempts this season. “I was doing good. I was coming to the net, but I didn’t get too many chances. I rallied really good.”
In the second set with Marques serving, he went up 40-love on Pettit before giving up a points. Then after a back-and-forth rally, Marques went to Pettit’s forehand and the NorCal ranked player hit it wide.
In the No. 2 singles spot, senior Jacob Pniewski dropped a frustrating 6-1, 6-0 decision to Salinas’ Brian Pybas.
“It was frustrating,” Pniewski said. “I couldn’t concentrate on the task at hand.”
Senior No. 3 Mark Heisy battled against Cowboys’ Martin Gutenich before faltering 6-0, 6-2 in the end.
“I could never get into a rhythm,” Heisy said. “I came out late. I was expecting it to rain. I forgot my head-band and shoes at home. “I was playing well all week, too. I was looking for a big game today. As long as the team wins, I’ll be a little happier.”
The Mustangs’ doubles swept the Live Oak pairs, but it was not enough without a singles ‘W’. The top Gilroy tandem of seniors Tomas Carrillo and Ray Rivera cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Salinas’ Sean Nemmer and Jeff Hill.
“We were really hoping to get it in and get it over with,” Rivera said.
“We’re just playing a lot better now,” Carrillo added. “We’re really feeling it now.”
The No. 2 duo of Anthony Christian and Peter Adams continued their undefeated tear – beating up on Cowboys’ Joey Garcia and Jared Howell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.
“We came out strong,” Christian said. “I played better at the net.”
P. Adams added: “I first-served in and crossed it up.”
In the No. 3 doubles, Gilroy’s all-Adams tandem of brothers Chris, a freshman, and Scott, a senior, defeated Salinas’ Chris Chin and Yon Nguyen, 6-3, 6-4.
“The guy in the beginning kept smashing it so I told Scott to stop hitting the ball to him,” the younger Adams said. “Them we started smashing.”
The Mustangs will play host April 8 to Hollister at 3:30 p.m. before bringing their show to North Salinas on April 10.
