Scarborough 4

Westbrook 1

The Scarborough boys’ tennis team improved to 11-0 this season with a 4-1 win over visiting Westbrook on Friday. Adam Saltz claimed the third Scarborough point of the match with a victory over David Born to secure the win.

“It was a tough match (Friday),” said Scarborough coach Craig McDonald. “Our number three singles was sick from (Thursday’s) match and we had to put a freshman in at number three singles. He did very well but lost. Our number one singles had a tough match with David Born of Westbrook.”

Scarborough’s top doubles duo, Nate Gove and Ryan Eddy, took the day’s first match in two sets, 6-0, 6-1, over Adam LaViolet and Brendan Walden. Gove and Eddy have been unbeaten all year.

“I thought we played really well today,” Eddy said. “My partner Nate Gove and I were really clicking. We played fundamentals. We played the way we’ve been playing all year.”

The day’s second match, and second point, went to Westbrook. Tyler Rand matched up against Dennis Liu at number three singles. Rand took the first set 6-2. The second set was much tighter. Rand led 3-2 but Liu took two straight games to lead 4-3. Rand rallied and took the next three straight to win the second set 6-4.

“The first set went smoothly then my opponent picked it up in the second set and it was close,” Rand said. “I was down 4-3 and came back and won three straight. It was a tight one.”

The Red Storm took a 2-1 lead in the overall match when Zach Porter and EJ Concesion defeated Westbrook’s Matt Cottrell and Ian Karby, 6-3, 6-2. The Storm have been searching for the right pair to play at number two doubles and McDonald says they have found it.

“I’ve been trying to find the right lineup to give us the best consistency and chemistry and I think we found it with Zach porter and EJ Concesion,” McDonald said. “I think that was the match that did it for us. That was the one we were worried about with number three singles being a new player.”

The day’s tightest match belonged to top singles players Saltz and Born. Born took a 3-0 lead in the first set before Saltz stormed back for a 6-4 win. In the second set, Born jumped out early again with a 3-2 lead. But, again, Saltz stormed back to win 6-4.

“It was a good match,” Saltz said. “It was really close. It was important to stay positive and focused throughout the match because I was down 3-0. It was about fighting and being consistent and being a little more aggressive and risky which was important because playing back didn’t help. As soon as I came into my own it was a good time.

With the outcome of the match certain, Nick Tolman made quick work of Ian Levinsky in number two singles. Tolman, who has been unbeaten all year, won the match 6-1, 6-0.

The win sets up a season finale that will determine the top seed. The Red Storm were scheduled to take on Windham on Tuesday.

“(Windham) is very good,” McDonald said of the Eagles. “They are strong in all spots and we’re playing up there. The best team is going to win. I’m sure everyone will bring their “A” game.”

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