Having a ball

Thomas Fenner can’t explain why he does so well at the sport that involves hitting a tiny, hollow ball back and forth over a net in rapid succession.

It’s table tennis to some, but most people just call it ping-pong.

Fenner can call it something at which he dominates. He proved it again Saturday at the inaugural Canyon Court Classic table tennis tournament, held at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.

He won the boys’ 13-19-year-old age group in the tournament, a feat which got him a considerable amount of “swag.” These prizes included gift certificates to local businesses like Adolfo’s and Golden Spoon, a DVD, a pair of surfing shorts, a T-shirt and a medal.

Fenner, an eighth-grader at Thurston Middle School, usually wins. He’s the champion of not only the local Boys & Girls Club, but of all the branches in Orange County, which he won during a tournament last May. He secured the Laguna title Saturday after a tough challenge from Trip Burding.

But there weren’t really any losers at the Canyon Court Classic. Everybody was having fun, and that was a big goal, tournament organizer Dakota Sottosanto said.

Sottosanto, one of two Teen Center directors at the Boys & Girls Club, organized the tournament as a fundraiser to support youth programs. At the end of the day, the Boys & Girls Club raised nearly $400 through entry fees.

“I think it went well,” said Sottosanto, who also played in the tournament. “It was a little hectic for me, but it’s definitely a fun sport.”

The tournament was broken up by divisions, including boys’ 12-and-under, men’s 18-39, men’s over 40 and a women’s division. Overall, there were 30 competitors, with four tables set up in the gym and burgers outside on the grill.

Once the singles matches ended, doubles started, and that was where some of the real action went down.

After all, there aren’t too many other sports where a team can make up its own nickname.

“We’re the Crest [Drive] Killers,” said Phil Wood, sitting beside his partner, Doug McLaughlin, after they won the doubles title. “It’s because we live on Crest [Drive].”

McLaughlin grinned.

“We’ll definitely be here next year to defend our title,” he said. “We thrive on competition.”

So did Jesse Miller, who won the 18-39 bracket playing lefty but said he likes to switch racquet positions.

“I’m ambidextrous,” Miller said. “This is my first tournament ever, but I do like to play a lot. I look to play more ... I think this was a great day for the Laguna Beach community, all made possible by Dakota.”

Other division winners included Hans Laroche in the 40-and-over division, Sara Dean in the women’s division and Johnny Channels in the 12-and-under division.

Gene Sottosanto, Dakota’s dad, came in second to Laroche. But he didn’t mind, staying around to watch some other matches.

“I played in high school and I played a little bit recently,” Gene Sottosanto said. “It’s the kind of thing, where do you find a ping-pong table? There’s usually pool tables at the bars, but not ping-pong tables ... It’d be nice if there was a ping-pong club. It’s a great sport. It’s great for all ages.”

Laroche, who works at the club as the athletic director, agreed.

“I love any racquet sport,” he said. “Tennis, squash, racquetball. You can play for a long time. It’s a lifetime sport.”

Dakota Sottosanto said he hopes to put on the tournament again next year. Until then, the players can brush up on their skills, or there’s always the recent satirical “Balls of Fury” flick to watch.

As Christopher Walken’s character said in that one, “Represent.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at [email protected].