Badminton wins, track frosh/soph boys win
The rain-out make-up game between rivals Gilroy and Live Oak was a reversal of fortune the second time around Tuesday as Live Oak took a 5-2 win over visiting Gilroy – the same score that Gilroy won by in their first clash.
“It was a tough battle. The Live Oak guys played the best I’ve ever seen them play. Not to take anything away from our guys, but those guys played great. They had a good day,” said Gilroy second-year head coach Chris Yoder, who’s become very familiar with the neighboring rivals.
Live Oak is now 8-5 in the Tri-County Athletic League. The loss drops Gilroy to a tie with Salinas as both teams have 10-3 records.
Next time the two teams meet will be Thursday, May 1 on the Gilroy courts at 3:30 p.m., and Live Oak is expected to have its freshman phenom, David Polayes, back in the starting line-up.
“They will be stronger in singles with him in there, but we’re ready for the battle,” said Yoder.
Polayes did not play for the Acorns on Tuesday – but neither did Gilroy senior Tomas Carrillo, a top doubles player, due to illness.
It was the singles match-ups that caused all kinds of problems for the Mustangs this time around, though. Gilroy lost all four – which guarantees a loss in the best-of-seven match.
“I didn’t think they’d get swept. I actually thought win three out of four. But it’s difficult to say. I knew LO had good players and they actually played better than we did, today.”
No. 1 Live Oak’s David Lucarelli-Cowles defeated Robbie Marques dropped a 6-4, 6-2 in their first encounter of this season.
No. 2 Nick Cotta and No. 4 Nick Matsomoto both won three-set matches. Cotta defeated Mark Heisy 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 and Matsomo bettered Mark Hsieh 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
In the No. 3 position, Chris Laskodi recorded a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jacob Pniewski.
In the No. 2 doubles spot, Tim Bouchette and Tad Christopher defeated in an exciting three-setter Peter Adams and PJ Jamal 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 2-6.
The mix-and-match Gilroy doubles line-up due to Carrillo’s absence accounted for the team’s two wins.
Live Oak’s Ryan Alexander and Rob Ferrando lost to Ray Rivera and Anthony Christian 6-3, 6-2.
Meanwhile, the No. 3 brothers Gilroy tandem of Chris Adams and Scott Adams defeated Jacob Haim and Matt McElroy 6-4, 6-0.
Badminton
Live Oak defeated San Jose 8-7 on Tuesday to improve to 4-7 in the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
All three girls singles and girls doubles recorded wins. No. 1 Vivian Lau won 15-3, 15-3. No. 2 Malory Stevens won 15-6, 15-0. And Michelle Garber picked up a 15-2, 15-0 win. In No. 1 doubles, the undefeated duo of Cassy David and Stephanie Curtis, who won the league last year, won 15-9, 15-0. The No. 2 pair of sophomores Elizabeth Gibson and Susan Fierro won 13-15, 15-3, 15-3. In No 3 doubles, sophomores Jennafer Mason and Jessica Pollard won by forfeit.
The No.1 mixed double tangent of Nichole Cupps and Roger Alcarez won 15-4, 15-4 andremain undefeated. The other win was picked up in No. 3 double as Aaron Palm and and freshman Elane Liu won 14-17, 15-9, 15-12
Junior Boone Richardson faced an undefeated player in No. 1 boys and had a tough time despite several good rallies and lost 4-15, 3-15.
The Live Oak badminton team has five games left in the season. After the break, Live Oak plays home games against Leigh on April 29 and Evergreen on May 1.
Track and field
Live Oak competed in the Avis Kelley Invitational on Saturday while dodging rain drains drops that canceled several events. The fresh/soph boys team finished in first place.
Billy Wong, Jesus Atanacio and Justin Cates finished first, second and third in the 800 meter frosh/soph event. Wong finished with a time of 2:06.4, Atanacio finished with a time of 2:07.2 and Cates came in at 2:15.1. Wong and Atanacio came in first and second in the mile with times of 4:42.6 and 4:50.4 respectively.
Cates also finished second in his 400 meter heat with a time of 57.18. Jason Dowdy came in third in his 100 meter heat with a mark of 12.49. Brandon Powell won the 65 high hurdles with a time of 9.79.
The Live Oak frosh/soph girls placed tenth. The boys varsity team finished tenth, and the the girls squad finished ninth.
Kris Mott finished second in the 800 and seventh in the 400 and fifth in the mile.
Heather Molyneux led the girls with a sixth place in the 100 meters race, Shelly Hart and Leane Lopez came in fourth and fifth in the 100 meter hurdles with almost identical times of 17.84 and 17.85.
Tanya Tenorio came in sixth in shot put with a throw of 28’10.50″ and fifth in discuss with a mark of 94’07”.
Ashley Trask finished sixth in the long jump with 12’08.50″. Ashley Ceaser finished fourth in the high jump with a distance of 4’10’.
Note: In the April 15-17 Edition of The Times we incorrectly reported that sophomore Nicki Weatherford won the 200 meter run against Salinas. She did not win that race but won the 400 meter. First place in the 200s was Heather Molyneaux.
