Bulldog tennis finishes second in league

By Bill Tamburrino

The Ramona High tennis team lost its first-round playoff match to Steele Canyon High School on the road. The Dawgs finished the season with a 7-6 record and in second place in the Valley League with a 4-2 record.

“We were down four players due to AP exam conflicts,” said coach Rose Darrough. “We will be at full strength in the league individual and doubles tournaments next week.”

Adam Mazzola is seeded third in individuals and Garrett Wilcox is the No. 4 seed. In doubles play Seneca Utech and Chad Martin are the No. 4 seed. All players seeded above Ramona are from Del Norte, according to the coach.

“All players improved significantly and, although we are graduating six seniors, there are some talented young players returning. All six seniors have been accepted to a four-year college and are in the top 1 percent of their class. Matt Lawler and Karl Sapper are going to the Air Force Academy. It was a pleasure to work with all of them,” Darrough said.

Against Steele Canyon on May 6, Mazzola went 6-3, 2-6 and 6-4. Wilcox turned in scores of 4-6, 2-6 and 6-4. Filippo Rallo went 2-6, 0-6 and 0-6.

In doubles play Utech and Martin went 1-6, 6-3 and 6-2. Josh McDonald and Andrew Giordino went 2-6, 1-6 and 6-4. Matt Lawler and Erik Taft went 0-6, 3-6 and 4-6.