Irish Blues

You will lose an hour of sleep Saturday night -- The return of DST

TENNIS E-News

Mar. 07, 2008 Vol. VII, No. 23
South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner
Hilton Head Island SC

4 p.m. 'Whether' Advisory Posted

'Luck of the Irish' Blue Over Weather; Rescheduled Matches for Saturday & Sunday

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) -- The only luck showing for the Luck of the Irish Doubles today was bad, as Tournament Director Jackie Reynecke, Tennis Director John Kerr and crew scrambled schedules to cope with wet weather that was welcomed in some aspects but not by this weekend's organizers or players.

This is the 4 p.m. whether advisory from TD Reynecke:

"Got one 3 pm match out and have some of the original scheduled 5:00’s and later scheduled matches going on if the weather holds. I have my fingers crossed. All other matches have been rescheduled to tomorrow with new times and players should call into the tennis center by 6 pm tonight. Pro shop opens at 7:30 am Saturday with matches starting at 8 am."

TENNIS E-News is going with this edition now and will be catching up with any results in Saturday's issue.

State Recruiting Other Areas

Super Senior 75s in the Headlines Again … This Time Beyond TAHHI & CCTA Areas

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The Super Senior 75s & Older league program, begun on HHIsland like other Super Senior formats, got a boost to spread statewide, at least, in a weekend USTA South Carolina league coordinators workshop in Columbia.

The 75s pilot program had a very successful start here last fall with Men's 3.0 and 3.5 teams. Expansion of that program to include a Women's 75 league is on track for this fall. Coordinators Don Grider and Mary Ellen Arboe already are spreading the word for the late '08 season that will include HHI league teams and those from the new Coastal Carolina Tennis Association in one league. I.E., not a split. A 75s division is likely to be included in the November Super Senior Championships on Isle of Palms.

For more information, email dmgrider@roadrunner.com or tennisbeachbums@aol.com.

USTA LEAGUE STANDINGS

Here is the rundown of Adult League teams in TennisLink as of the Thursday (3/7):

Adult # teams

2.5M -- 1 team --

2.5W -- 5 teams -- Bluffton HS Alley Cats lead at 5-0

3.0M -- 6 teams -- Sun City Sun Devils lead at 5-1

3.0W -- 9 teams -- Beaufort Breeze leads at 4-1

3.5M -- 8 teams -- Bluffton Breeze leads at 3-0

3.5W -- 18 teams -- Palmetto Dunes Dixie Chix lead at 3-0 in Flight I; Indigo Run Volley Girls lead at 3-0 in Flight II

4.0M -- 4 teams -- Port Royal Sundevils lead at 3-1

4.0W -- 6 teams -- Sea Pines Smashers lead at 6-0

4.5M -- 2 teams -- Beaufort Tidal Wave leads at 1-0

4.5W -- 3 teams -- South Beach leads at 1-0

5.0M -- 2 teams -- play TBA

HHI/Bluffton/Beaufort

Junior Team Tennis Spring/Summer Planning Gets Under Way

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) --Junior Team Tennis '08, administered by Public Tennis Inc., will open registration May 1 (through June 1) for the Spring/Summer League with matches to begin in late May. JTT is a USTA program in which kids ages 6-18 can compete in a team format featuring boys/girls singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles.

The Fall '07 season had a record number of teams, rostering 145 Beaufort County kids by opening up new play divisions such as 12-and-Under Beginner and 14-and-Under Intermediate. Two local teams from this past season as well as the winners of this coming season, assuming they are different teams, will represent our area at the State Championships in July in Sumter. Winning there leads to a Regional and National Championship.

The Spring season is timed between the boys high school season, school end and before the high school girls season, offering a chance to prepare for tournament play as well as high school JV/varsity even college playing. If the response level is high for 6- to 10-year-old beginners, the USTA Quick Start (modified equipment and court size) will be incorporated in JTT.

USTA Membership is required (special junior rate) and a team fee of about $50 includes matches, practice session, balls, refreshments, a year-ending party and a team tee shirt. JTT has featured teams from Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Bluffton and with coaches including Dan Santorum, Scott Nichols, Patrick Mason, several pros from Palmetto Dunes and Local League Coordinator Robert Brown. ”We hope to see our numbers even higher by adding new teams plus a new division 14-and-Under Beginners," Brown said. "We don’t want to turn any child away”.

More information regarding open teams, coaching, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be obtained through Brown at 290-2833. Visit http://www.sctennis.com to learn more.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO Among the best [actual] headlines for 2007:

( ) Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

( ) Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

(___) Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

-- Dennis Malick