Ojai Day 2

D3West, here. You know the deal. Time for some Ballou

Stop…Libby Time

This has probably been the most fun I’ve had in D3 tennis: getting to watch, converse and hang out with all the players this weekend and then write all about it. I am happy to say that I will be able to cover next weeks SCIAC Conference tournament next weekend since Cal Lutheran is hosting it this year. I may even fit into my schedule to cover some of NCAA’s at Claremont. Whatta you say bloggers?! (I say do your thang, but don’t take my job)

Making the 2^nd day of The Ojai is a good accomplishment, but making the 3^rd and final day of the tournament takes the cake for anyone in the West. If you get to play on the famous courts at Libby Park, you almost guarantee yourself a plane ticket to Nationals (Interlude: FALSE), or should I say for CMS, just roll out of bed and walk across the street this year. They almost pulled off the 4 for 4 in the semi’s of singles at the Ojai but Yasgoor ended that this morning with a huge win over Dorn after coming back being down 1-4 in the 3^rdset to win 6-4. A freshman who I thought Dorn would have a slight edge over yesterday because of size, weight and experience proved me wrong. Congrats to him on a good tournament!

Singles

Warren Wood (CMS)

It’s been a pleasure playing you all those times, but it’s even better watching you play from off the court. Wood’s looks a little different this year. Things are a little cleaner all the way around from my perspective. Wood’s game just looks good right now. He took down Schommer this morning after a slow first few games, but got on track and never looked back.  Playing against a sick Treacy his second round and winning 6-1 6-0 definitely saved his legs for tomorrow against Butt’s, he WILL need them.

VERSUS

Skyler Butts (CMS)

I think when his name is first said, everyone turns 10 again for 5 seconds and giggles. Well I’m pretty sure Skyler could care less because no one is giggling anymore, No One. I’ve had the pleasure of playing Skyler 2 or 3 times. I have to say, he has impressed me more than anyone else in the West this year with his skill, game and hard work. I’m sure most coach’s and spectators would have to agree with me here, but if you don’t, sorry but you are just wrong. ; ) If you still try and battle me on it, I’ll just show you the 2^nd and 3^rd set scores from Butts vs. Lipscomb in the quarters today. 4-6 6-2 6-0. Yes Butts beat Redlands #1 player 6-2 6-0 in the 2^nd and 3^rd set.  Didn’t Lipscomb make the quarters of NCAA’s last year? Well BIG WIN!

My Thoughts

I really don’t have much to say about this match because Butt’s has been on fire all fall and spring, but Wood is Wood. I’ve dropped a number of sets to this guy because he can just turn it up and spank players around the court day in and day out. This should be a long one.

David Konstantinov (Whittier)

Again, this kid is just funny. Yells of happiness and cries of pain were cutting through the Ojai mountains with him today.  He played a great match against Thompson being the first match off the court by far, leg saver for sure. I guess he had the same idea as Wood with trying to get off quickly today.

VERSUS

Nikolas Marino (CMS)

“I’m so glad you aren’t playing the Ojai this year, because now I won’t need to worry about playing you AGAIN.” Marino and I have played a number of times, and all I have to say is I’m glad I didn’t have to this year because he’s playing the best I’ve ever seen him play. I wouldn’t want to play him after he took down Cardenas 7-6(4) 6-3 in his quarterfinal today. I’ll give it to him, he earned this one today. Cardenas played well and Marino stepped up to the occasion and battled his ass off today.

My Thoughts

THIS MATCH WILL BE ENTERTAINING! If you pick a D3 match to watch all year against two West Coast players, this would be the one to watch. The vocal cords on both these guys are awesome… reminds me of a mirror. I can’t wait to see all the entertaining gesticulation and gamesmanship that will go on in this match.

The Final?!

So I have to pick a winner for the semi’s and put them in the final. This SUCKS! I don’t know how this happened, but SCIAC/West Region has become very friendly. It was a topic between players and myself today at the tournament. They hate actually liking everyone in the region, but it’s a great problem to have. Alright, enough rambling about how cute we all are getting along now. I’ll sugar coat this so everyone feels like a winner tomorrow, psh yeah right.

Wood beats Butt in 3 sets because they know each others games too well to just have it go 2 sets, but Wood is king of the mountain till he is dethroned in my mind. Marino takes down Konstantinov ONLY after I saw the tear he went on today to make it to the semifinals. Konstantinov was too streaky with his winners and misses today.

Doubles

Again it’s starting to get late and I’m so tired from sitting in the sun and watching some great tennis today, so I’m sorry if I don’t touch on everyone’s matches.

Let me first off just give a shout out to Littlejohn/Richter from Cruz because their doubles match against the #2 seeds Bello/Wiechert was an absolute barn burner. Big serves, big returns and throw in a mix of crazy points and clutch shots and that’s the recipe for that match. Richter serving down 0-30 at either 6-7 or 7-8 was probably the biggest clutch moment of the match. Big time Richter for getting those four straight points and take it to the breaker! I have to also say that I am extremely impressed with Bello and his game. Watch out for that kid because he could be huge threat to anyone. Tall and lefty, yes please!

Konstantinov/Schommer (Whittier)

This team definitely stepped up today. Taking down Morkovine/Yeh of CMS and then the #1 seeds Wood/Dorn 8-4. They just beat last year’s doubles finalist 8-4, DAMN. I don’t know how they will come out tomorrow against Butts/Brown Mamba (Kotrappa), but I’m pretty sure it will be a singles match between Schommer and Kotrappa since Butts and Konstantinov could be dead if they both play in the semifinals and finals of singles tomorrow.

VERSUS

Butts/Kotrappa (CMS)

Butts has made it to the finals of doubles as well as the semi’s of singles. If I had to pick a doubles partner from CMS, Kotrappa would definitely be up there. Calm, cool, collected, awesome nick name, and just knows how to play some doubles. He liked singles enough last year to win the fall ITA, but now he wants to do something big in doubles.

Between these two teams, anything can happen. I think The Brown Mamba will be the deciding factor here. Schommer is a player, but Kotrappa has a better doubles mind. I think Butts/Kotrappa take this in straight sets, and Kotrappa can cap off his individual tennis career in style.

On an ending note, I’m looking forward to a solid day of entertaining tennis from all 4 of these matches tomorrow. Singles starts at 8am, which is when I should be still passed out from tonight, but because I care about you guys and this damn sport so much, I’m driving my ass all the way up there at 6:45 just to share this with everyone! Good Luck to everyone and let’s find out who has the balls to take it all!

Editor’s note. I know for a fact that Ballou wrote this in about 20 minutes, so please take a seat Grammar Nazis. Big time dedication from the man to provide Tweets tomorrow morning.