When David Palmer first came to Boston in the Fall of 2007 to become the University Club’s touring professional, there was little doubt he’d soon step on the doubles court for the first time. Those who saw him take that first step knew immediately there was trouble ahead for any of his future opponents. David is the 2008 British Open champion and has been ranked in the world’s top 10 softball players for many years. Naturally, he’s picked up the doubles game quickly and with partner Andrew Slater captured the State A tournament in five games over the defending champions, Sandy Tierney & Pat Malloy. It wasn’t easy. After winning the first two games, Sandy & Pat won the next two, mercilessly pounding away at Slater. In the fifth, however, Sandy faltered – understandable as it was his tenth game of the evening. More on that later. Palmer & Slater had to work along the way, defeating Doug Lifford, many times former champion & Jon Hyett in a four-game quarter, then fellow pros Chris Spahr & Dan Roberts in a very tight four-game semi-final. Sandy & Pat had an easier route when Greg Zaff & Derrick Niederman, also former champions, had to retire when Derrick pulled a calf muscle. Of note was Zaff & Niederman’s quarter-final victory, 15-14 in the fifth over Ming Tsai & Preston Quick, a loss which may have affected the entrees at Ming’s Blue Ginger restaurant that evening.
As mentioned, Sandy had a long evening, playing for more than three hours, courtesy of a five game final in the 50’s against Tom Poor & John Nimick. Sandy & Lenny Bernheimer linked up last season when Tom, Lenny’s partner in national tournaments, had both knees replaced. They chose to defend this year and appeared to be in good shape after a 15-3 rout in the third game gave them a 2-1 lead. However, John took even more balls in the next two games which turned the tide and finally the match in their favor. Poor & Nimick were fortunate to escape first the quarters in five over Matthew Kozol & Mat Sibble, then another five game test over Joe Duffey & Jeff Rodman in the semis. Sandy & Lenny had a much easier time of it with a semi-final shutout of Court Chilton & Jon Ross.
Lenny’s evening was only a partial downer, for in the 60’s, he and partner John Brazilian cruised to their fourth straight title with a three game thumping of Tom Poor & Marty Stocklan. The winners didn’t drop a game the whole tournament while Tom & Marty had to grind out a five game semi over the Harvard Club’s John Sheldon & Chuck Kelly. The only other five game match in this event was a quarter-final win by Dick Whitney & Dave Murphy over Mike Keating & Sam Magruder, the outgoing president of Mass Squash.
The Harvard Club had its revenge in the Womens event where home professional Sharon Bradey & Jeannie Blasberg defeated Fernanda Rocha & Hope Crosier in a surprisingly easy three game semi, then prevailed in the finals over Hope Prockop & Sue Greene, a newcomer to the Boston area, in another five game final. Jeannie has become an accomplished doubles player, successfully competing earlier this season in the Can-Am Cup and now winning the States. Her prowess also means trouble ahead for husband John on the doubles court.
Jeannie and son Charlie are no slouches on the doubles court either as they bested Philip & Marcus Bullen in the quarters of the Parent-Child tournament before falling in four to Chris & Carson Spahr in the next round. The upper half of the draw was very tight. Tom & Liam Quinn first got by Bob & Timmy Brownell, then had a four game close quarter-final win over 2007 champions Matthew & Joel Kozol. They met the 2008 defending champions, David & Greg Crane, in the next round, losing the second game in overtime, winning the fourth in overtime and finally gaining the fifth at 11. Clearly, the sons Greg and Liam were the driving forces in the match which took close to two hours. In the final, the Quinns dropped the first, then won the next three, working 13-year old Carson as much as possible. Carson, after another year of growth and strength, will be trouble ahead in the 2010 draw.
Chris Spahr was not done for the evening as he & Hope Crosier played the last match of the Mixed against Margot Kearney & Pat Malloy. Margot is an excellent tennis player and has picked up doubles quickly. She and Hope traded shots throughout the match with the men pouncing on any ball left short or not making it cross court. Hope was slightly steadier which proved to be the difference in their five game victory. They had advanced to the final in a three game quarter-final win over Jeannie Blasberg & Greg Zaff, then a more difficult conquest of Hope Prockop & Preston Quick (ranked #5 on the ISDA mens professional tour). Margot & Pat had a four game close win in the semi-finals over Fernanda Rocha & Doug Lifford, a many time Mixed winner with other partners. This was the first year in memory that Doug has not been in the final of some State event.
The C tournament began in early March with 23 teams. Seeding this event is always a challenge. The top placement went to Amrit Kanwal, last year’s winner with Jordan Berns, and new partner Dave Shulman. They lost in the quarters to Bill Keravuori & Ed Johnson – Ed has come of age this year in doubles as he reached the finals of the Punter’s Cup as well. In keeping with the uncertainty of seeding, only #3 Marty Stocklan & Jon Hartnett survived the quarters. They went down in the semis to Bill & Ed, setting up a final with Dean Williams & Matt Gibbs. The latter duo had knocked off #4 Dave Riccio & Philip Bullen, then Andy Plimpton & Jesse Lane who had dispatched #2 seed Peter Goodall & Bob Frazier. Dean & Matt played largely error-free in the finals which more than offset Keravuori’s shots, winning the match in four.
The largest draw of the States was the B with 34 teams. Seeding here is a bit more rational as entrants have some previous track record. Odds on betting, however, was on the #3 seed, Glenn Prichett & Josh Greenhill (2005 champion with Nick Barquin). Joe Cortes & Scott Beebe were awarded top billing on the strength of previous B State titles for each with different partners. As the tournament progressed, the surprise advancers were John Frantzis & Chris Lutes. Chris doesn’t play much, and John appears hobbled at times with sore knees. John, however, has a deadly unorthodox reverse corner, and Chris can chase down a lot of shots. They knocked off #4 seed Michael Wang & Bruce Sullivan, then Court Chilton & Jon Ross in a five game quarter before finally meeting their maker in a four game, semi-final loss to Cortes & Beebe. Below, Joe Duffey & protégé Greg Crane eliminated #2 Andrew Matuch & Len Zide, then fell to 2004 champions Rob Dewees & John Palfrey in the quarters. Prichett & Greenhill rolled along easily, continuing the same over Rob & John in the semis. In the finals, after dropping the first two, it appeared Glenn & Josh were destined to take the fifth game following 15-7 scores in the 3rd and 4th games. Not so. Cortes summoned some remarkable shots, and Scott hit cross courts even harder to close out the game at 10.
So, the winners can crow for the summer while the losers lick their wounds and the injured heal theirs. More excitement is in store as the Union Boat Club lays plans for a new doubles court, sure to bring in a new influx of players and making Boston a suitable venue for a major tournament with four courts in the city. This development, the large number of players in the States (this year, a record 166 entrants), and the emergence of younger players bode well for the future of the doubles game in Boston.