Balboa Bay earns slot in regionals

The Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club celebrated a big victory last week

after learning that a strong performance this season from their

14-year-old girls Junior Team Tennis squad has earned them a slot to

compete in the Far West regional in October 2004.

This comes after the team captured the fall 2003 Southern

California sectional championship in January, capping an undefeated

season (8-0 in league, 3-0 in the playoffs) in the Penn League, led

by Coach Chris Ketchum.

“Each of the girls played well as individuals,” Ketchum said, “and

as the season progressed they came together as a team to preserve

their undefeated season.”

The team competed in the SoCal sectionals with the boys 14s

winner, Sea Cliff Country Club, to win all three matches -- defeating

San Fernando Valley, San Diego, and North Orange County.

In the finals of the mixed doubles match, much of the team’s

success came down to Allie Shea, Ketchum said, where she exhibited

strong play in her volleys and around the net to win the final match,

8-2.

The team, which also includes Joanna Brooks, Katie Kittrell,

Lindsay Fry, Anne Russell, Christina Brookes and Kristen Kahn, is

expected to return to the court next month to kick off the spring

Penn League season.