Sobrato throttles Prospect; Live Oak drops rematch with Willow
Glen
MORGAN HILL — Sobrato kept alive its Santa Teresa Division title hopes Thursday with a 5-2 victory over Prospect at Sobrato High School.
The Bulldogs, who moved to 5-3 in league play, took 2 of 3 in doubles play — with their one loss coming by forfeit. Sobrato’s top pair of Gian Abella and Jacob Mendiola won in three sets, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4; and teammates Chris Holmes and Khuzema Khairullah took the No. 2 doubles match, 6-0, 6-1.
Sobrato drew a singles forfeit and received wins from Tyler Pecsok (6-1, 6-0) and Zach Thomas (6-4, 4-6, 10-6).
The Bulldogs travel to Yerba Buena today.
Willow Glen 4, Live Oak 3
Live Oak entered Thursday’s match hoping to make ground in the West Valley Division title race while getting revenge against Willow Glen.
Despite putting together three dimensions of strokes, strategy and strength, the Acorns had to settle for a 4-3 loss at Live Oak High School.
The match was decided in a 2 1/2-hour No. 1 doubles contest that saw Willow Glen’s Emmett Harper and Simon Herrera win a third-set tie-breaker to beat Shane Herber and Sean Sullivan 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4).
Acorns’ top single Jimmy Shedden stayed perfect in league play, overcoming back spasms to edge Phil Unger 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
In the No. 2 singles match, Ryan Campbell succumbed to the 120-mph serve of Willow Glen’s Blake Morrow, who triumphed 6-3, 6-0.
Live Oak’s Derek Johnson served notice on base-line basher Brandon Snodgrass that he was not going to give up easily. Johnson fell 1-6, 7-6 (6), 1-6, but took home his team’s coveted Go to the Towel award for demonstrating unflappable commitment — and working up a sweat.
His brother, Dylan Johnson, knotted the singles score with his 6-4, 6-2 victory over the Rams’ Chris Ferro. Dylan Johnson remains the only Acorn who is undefeated on the season.
Live Oak’s No. 2 doubles team of Gabriel Fluckiger and Spencer Sullivan fell 4-6, 1-6 to Patrick Benevento and Matt Malone.
The Acorns rebounded in surprise fashion, as Q. Farroqui and an ailing Brendan Haughey rallied to beat Calvin Fong and Shermin Tang of Willow Glen, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. Because of illness, Haughey had not practiced or played for more than two weeks. Farooqui has been working hard, and his improved serve and forehand made a difference in the No. 3 doubles match.
Live Oak (3-3 league) resumes division play Thursday at Gunderson.
