On March 3, the Maugus team won the first round playoff of the 50+ league against Boston Racquet Club on their home courts, to go through to the finals the following Monday night at Maugus Club. In the photo below, the two teams celebrated after another good match. Standing left to right: Bob Frazier, Keith Munsell, Tim Blank, Charlie Evangelakos, Dave Heather, Mike MacDonald, Doug Carr, and Rich Schafer. In front: Matt Hoffman, Dan Reagan, Jon Kelly, Jack Troy, and Mark Dickenson.
On March 10, Maugus went up against Union Boat Club in the league final. This was a special challenge, because one of our top players, Rich Schafer, was caught in transit somewhere over America. I will begin by quoting Tyler Hindermann (UBC’s #1 player): “As for a recap of last night, I can’t remember the exact scores but I was truly getting my butt kicked in the first two games, which I think were 15-7 and 15-11. Nothing to say but great play. My opponent (David ‘the smasher’ Heather) was on fire and it felt like I was playing Dan Sharplin, smashing the ball with huge velocity and accuracy. I didn’t play badly, except a few unforced errors, but he was simply playing out of his mind, and I was questioning how that guy had a −6 and I had a −8 handicap. Several of his teammates said they had never seen him play so well. He had awesome put-aways and never let me control a point or even get into a point, even though I was the one giving the points in the handicap. He hit numerous pure and clean nicks and kept the ball as tight as I have ever experienced. The courts made that even more effective. I didn’t think that could continue if I got him tired since his shots were exceptionally clean and close to the tin. I took the third and ran him a bit for some softening, which seemed to work. I think the score was 15-11. I took the fourth in a close, working game with longer points, I believe 15-13. With the two point advantage in the fifth, he got off to a great start, up 7-3 or 8-3, and I started to climb back, always preferring to serve to his forehand as I had all match (back hand was better) to throw him off. He was up 11-10 but I pulled ahead 13-11 on some put away drops, switching choice of serve for the first time in the match to his back hand to make him think too much, then 14-11. I figured I could get one point in four but he had some great shots setting up a 14-14 tie with one point more to play. It doesn’t get any closer. He was tired and hit a weaker serve to my backhand and I hit a short cross court return nick to end it.”
And that was Union Boat’s only victory, and a very, very close one at that.
Playing at #2, ‘birthday’ Bob Frazier got far behind UBC’s Chris Lutes in the first game and had us all worried. But wouldn’t you know that, in true Bob fashion, he ran Chris off the table in the first and third, got beat in the second and fourth, but came through in the fifth to secure a win for Maugus. Playing at #3, Mark ‘the mighty’ Dickenson played an awesome match against Robert ‘drop and shoot from anywhere’ Loring. And like Bob Frazier’s match, Mark’s match seesawed back and forth but ended up with a victory for the home team. Playing at #4, Nana ‘Mr. Steady’ Poku played a thinking man’s game against Phil Laird, getting behind early but pulling out the first, third and fourth games, by having Phil running up and back with hard and then soft shots. Maugus therefore completed the season with a decisive 3-1 finals victory.
In the roughly 14 years that I have been captain, this was the sweetest victory, and the team of Rich, David, Bob, Nana, Doug, Tom, Dan, Guy and myself all contributed during the season to bring home the bacon. Congratulations to all for a wonderful season.
Keith Munsell
Maugus 50+ Captain
2014 50+ finals night photo below: Phil Laird, Robert Loring, Chris Lutes, Tris Dammin, Ty Hindermann, David Heather, Bob Frazier, Mark Dickenson, Guy DeFeis, Nana Poku, Lew Holmes, Keith Munsell, Dan Reagan. Other photos can be seen at: 50+ Finals.
(Portions of this report were taken from the “Maugus Mutterings” March 2014 newsletter)