Highlanders trimmed by Berkeley, 5-2

Piedmont Tennis Stars Still Confident of 5th Straight Title

By: Michael Lok

"Our match was tougher than usual," noted Sawicki, "but Flato and I always manage to come out on top." Ahead 4-3 in the third set of a marathon match, No. 1 Brett Baker lost some concentration and dropped the final three games to The motto "win some, lose some," rarely applies to Piedmont's tennis team ­ on the trail to winning its fifth straight league title. The fact is that the Highlanders win a considerable number of matches more than they lose.

A rare loss occurred last Thursday at the Piedmont Rec Courts, as the Berkeley Yellowjackets won three of the four singles matches, then added two of the three doubles matches in the win column for a 5-2 team victory. The non-league match provided more excitement and the longest match of the season, as five of the seven matches went to a dramatic third set before being decided.

Piedmont players may have been somewhat rusty after their one-week Spring Break. It was their first competition in nearly two weeks. No excuse can be made: the Highlanders could not have played with any greater enthusiasm and heart.

Piedmont victories came from freshman Albert Kao at No. 2 singles, and the No. 2 doubles team of Matt Sawicki and Eric Flato. After losing the first set in tiebreak (6-8), Kao settled down to beat Nicky Baum, 6-3, 6-3.

Sawicki and Flato, Piedmont's most successful doubles tandem this year, continued their winning streak, beating Quincy Moore and Ben Chamber in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3 Noah Farb, losing the match

6-7(4-7), 6-2, 6-4. No.3 Singles Brian Gilmore was defeated by Patrick Hamilton 4-6, 7-6(3-7), 6-4 in a match only minutes shy of Baker's three-hour match. Freshman David Wardlaw, playing No. 4 singles, lost in straight sets to Nate Simmon, 6-2, 6-2.

The No. 1 doubles team of Tim Browne and Mark Beilock won the first set 6-3 than struggled against George Thomas and Gabe Zeldin, losing the second and third sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0. At No.3, Michael Perez and Dan Epstein were defeated by Johan Shrogin and Jeremy Singer-Vine, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Piedmont gets back to its regular Tuesday-Thursday league schedule this week with a match at home against St. Joseph today, and at Salesian on Thursday. With BSAL playoffs and North Coast Section Team Championships approaching, Piedmont players know that last week's competitive match with Berkeley will help them prepare for post-season.