There’s something about that plaque…..that FCC Championship Tennis Plaque, that brings out intensity, effort, passion, anger and joy that we don’t often see in people.
In front of a one-sided, engaged, strangely subdued crowd of 27 tennis fans, somehow, someway, the first-time magical pairing of Brian Little and Larry Jones scratched and clawed their way to a 6-7, 6-4, 11-9 victory to capture the MEN’S 7.5 DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP.
Brian Little & Larry Jones
On paper, there’s NO WAY this doubles team should work. Little - the tall, strong, hammer-wielding righty, Jones- a veteran of using a variety of lobs, dinks and dumps. It may have been this dichotomous contrast in styles that proved to be too much for the more balanced team of Chuck Stumpp and Scott Atkins.
Match highlights:
- Weather: 74*, wind NE 8-10mph.
- Attendance: 27
- Stumpp saves breakpoint early in first set.
- Both teams exchange service holds as Stumpp saves a breakpoint at 2-3 in first set.
- Jones saves break point (and set point) at 4-5 in first set.
- Little serves at 5-2 in first set tie-break.
- Stumpp/Atkins rally to capture first set tie-break 8-6, taking the wind out of the sails of Little/Jones.
- Both teams stay on serve thru first eight games of second set.
- Stumpp serve broken for first time at 4-all.
- Little holds serve to win second set 6-4.
- Stumpp/Atkins take first point of Match TB off Jones’ serve and eventually lead 2-love.
- Both teams stay within 2 points of one another until 8-all.
- Stumpp/Little break Jones serve at 8-all.
- Stumpp / Atkins hold championship point at 9-8.
- Little/Jones save match point by winning both return points to lead TB 10-9.
- Serving at 10-9, Little clinches championship with another unreturnable serve. Win TB 11-9.
- Match time: 2:09
Thank you to all the FCC members who attended this classic match-up involving four gentlemen.
Thank you to those who purchased raffle tickets for the racquet giveaway. We earned $200 that will go directly toward supporting our FCC tennis program. Peggy Kelley was tonight’s winner of a new Wilson Clash 100 !!
Peggy Kelley with her new Wilson Clash !
Thank you to my ballboys: William Cook, James Hedrick, Luke Williams. This is very hard work. They appreciate the donations from our fans!
Ballboys: (l to r) J Hedrick, L Williams, W Cook
Next match: September 1, 6pm
Men’s 6.0 Championship,
John Steffen / Rod Walton v Frank Cosiano / Kevin MacDonald
- Another Wilson Clash will be raffled-off! Tickets can be purchased until completion of first set. $5/each, $20/5 tix.
- Pool bar will stay open thru completion of the match
The weather forecast is great. Come out and support our tennis program. Final match of the 2021 FCC Championships!
