Bentleague Results - Sept 25th, Thursday

 

Bring out the Broom (again)

Bentleague Results

Sept 25th, Thursday

 

6:00                    Cobra Kai II                   Spin Doctors 2                          

Line 1                Ed Dauterive                 Hal Neitzschman        6-3,6-0              Cobra Kai II

                              Greg Gordon                  Rudy Kalman

Hairy Hal takes one for the team in Russel’s absence.  Was Russel MIA because of the Oh-2 record or due to a prior commitment.  Curious minds want to know.  Word on the street was that the Spin Doctors had it tied at 3 before losing nine straight games.  Nine straight games ensured another early departure for RuPaul.  Swami wondering if Over 50’s will ever get those free margarita’s on the youngsters if the losing streak continues.  Rudy now has more losses in Bentleague XI than he did in totality last year.  So far…its been hard to live up to that third round draft selection.

Line 2                Tony Priola                      Michael Schwartz       3-6,6-4,1-0      Cobra Kai II

                              Chris Kobrock               Alejandro Torres

Thunder and lightening duo from Cobra Kai get back in the Win column against Sargeant Schwartz and Alejandro but it wasn’t easy.  Ale may be turning the corner and is playing well.  Swami sees some Ws in his future if he can keep up the consistency.  Sarge played really well too but once Lil Nadal adjusted to the pace, 2^nd set and TSTB went according to script.  First time since the Bulgarin quit on his match two years ago that the Prince got a chance for revenge against Schwartz.  It did feel good.  Only way it could have been better is if pouty Parnell was on the other side too.  Captain Sensei’s ground strokes were on point and the duo rebounded nicely from last week’s slide.    

Line 3                Caymen Sinclair          Mark Ferrer                    7-6,1-6,1-0      Cobra Kai II

                              Ronny Regouffre          Ken Looper

Did someone say quick serve for the win!  Everyone knows you must be ready when the wolfman is serving!  Only quicker one is Hefty Lefty Thompson.  Nice win for the Wolf and Cheech and another tough defeat for One Unplugged.  I mean…if you can’t count on Looper to tie up a golf match at Beau Chen with a six-foot par saver, I’m not betting on him in a TSTB in Bentleague.  They call me Swami for a reason.  Once this went to the third, money was on Cobra Kai. 

Line 4                Garret Phillippi             Mike Mesa                      6-2,6-1               Cobra Kai II

                              Ryan Fornier                  Todd Delcambre

Sensei dialing up Line 4 victories with the Phillippi/Fornier pairing.  I was a little surprised by the score though.  That Butler loss in the over-50-challenge did some damage to the Cuban’s Psyche and there is basically no explanation for all of Toad the Wet Sprocket’s losses.  This Cobra Kai duo competes, and Garett has been known to play some “mind” games during matches.  So far…it’s working. 

Line 5                Greg Eckholdt               Paul Eskine                    3-6,7-5,1-0      Cobra Kai II

                              George Strain                CJ Mehle

Whoa!  Great match closeout for both squads.  Eskine’s trickery worked early and often.  Could he really be a steal at 19 for Hairy Hal.  Not so fast says the Swami.  His game isn’t built for the distance.  Most teams figure him out before it’s too late.  And George did just that.  Greg was as steady as always but once George figured Eskine out, you could see the light go on.  Poor CJ running left to right, right to left behind Paul at the net was a recipe for disaster and the Spin Doctors paid the price. 

Total Points    5                                          0                          

Two sweeps in the first round is unheard of.  Damn.  With only 2 victories in 15 matches Hairy Hal’s Spin Doctors II reinventing definition of a slump.  Will Tucker continue to put beach time ahead of Bentleague?  Has the rest of the league caught up with Russell as Swami predicted?  Will Rudy challenge Gordo’s Oh-8 mark from a few years back?  What will the Mouth brag about with no chance for another ring? And Why is Hal afraid to put Sarge at line 1?  Told Hal Bentley was the kiss of Death to any title chances.

7:00                    Tricky's Tribe                Big Swinging Sticks II                           

Line 1                Nick Thompson           Shane McCarthy         6-3,2-6,1-0      Tricky's Tribe

                              Mark Fair                         Eddie Burdette

Great win for Tricky and the Ego.  There are only a couple o weaknesses to Shane’s game and both were exploited during the TSTB.  First…the questionable backhand.  He does a good job hiding it but the shot is a liability at line 1.  Second, and Swami has benefited from this in past singles matches, the serve is not top tier.  Definitely the weakest of all number one’s and most of the number two’s.  Ground strokes from the forehand side and net game are without peer but keep an eye on those weaknesses to see of BSS II can stay at the top.  Eddie the Chief Burdette answering any doubters so far.  Also glad to see Tricky and Fair smiling for a change after the match.

 

Line 2                Donald Allen                 Jay Butcher                     6-4,1-6,1-0      Big Swinging Sticks II

                              Jack Ellis                          Mike Lane

Here we go with the line up alterations from Nick.  Jack, this is Donald.  I know you have been winning with Max all year, but I’d like to introduce you to ReHash.  Swami took a peak over at court six and when I didn’t see ReHash mean mugging, I knew they were in trouble.  Dude is just too nice.  DickTrain Lane and Butch wanted blood.  So did Jack the Ripper.  The Donald just wanted good points.   

Line 3                Andrew McQuaid        Mark Schneider           6-4,7-5              Big Swinging Sticks II

                              Robert Groeneveld     Joey Dunbar

Let’s see.  Andrew and Kevin love to play with each other.  And it appears that the Butlers are unbeatable.  So let’s split up the Butlers and mix in Sundial to slow things down for Hyperactive Andrew.  Probably didn’t expect Samauria Schneider on this line so will let some of this slide.  Once Swami seen Sundial on opposite sides of the net from Schneider the team to bet became obvious.    

Line 4                Kevin Phayer                  Burt Dalton                    6-1,4-6,1-0      Big Swinging Sticks II

                              Danny Buttler                Ray Brouillette

Together they are better than the individual parts.  Everyone knows the true definition of a successful TEAM.  A little closer than expected but keeping Burt engaged can be a challenge.  Good win the the Latin Lover and Ray Ray.  Knees hinder mobility, but the dude still has all the tennis strokes.  Shano will keep penciling him in at line 4 all year for additional W’s.

Line 5                Chris Coincon              Keith West                      6-0,7-5              Big Swinging Sticks II

                              David Butler                   Matt Dean

Still say Coincon is a steal at 20.  We’ll eventually have to see some of the BSS II lower round draft selections on the court.  Shano may need to consult with Kevin on how not to save everyone for the last round.  Just ask Jaybo.  Butler and Chris may the 2^nd set interesting but Swami can surmise that Wild Keith West and Mad Mat may have lost interest after the bagel in set one.

Total Points    1                                          4                          

BSS II get four of five.  Damn Nick.  WTH.  You must do a better job with Pairings.  I can’t believe I am telling you about this right before your next match against Cobra Kai.  Here’s hoping the numbers work out and I can match up against the Butler Brothers.  Will be nice to get my last victory before surgery in a battle against those two.  Prince of the Parish is not losing to those Parish imitators.   

 

Looks like a two-horse race after round 1, but preseason predictions have Tricky mounting a charge soon.  Now if we can just pull the right line out of the hat and get that one point bonus… (2 point line) all will be right with the world.

 

Overall Points             

 

Tricky's Tribe                                 6           

Spin Doctors II                             11

Cobra Kai II                                    11

Big Swinging Sticks II                2