By: Rich Fisher
The Cranbury School varsity tennis team ended its season on a winning note against Princeton Academy, highlighted by singles wins from Mike Mayes and John Marsh. Singles players Will Rogers and Jason Trenkle also had close matches but lost in the end.
The four doubles teams each won their matches. According to co-coach Barbara Rogers, Aajay Vithala and Pat Chen defeated their foes "using top spin and volleys." Aidan Milner and Amanda Chen came through in a tie-breaker to win their match, Derek Delcore and Pat Hoerner teamed well to win overcome some tough points in their win, and Matthew Keele and Patrick Stehn won against their opponents with consistent play.
Rogers and co-coach Susan Paterson were pleased with the level of tennis played by the entire team not only during the season finale, but throughout the season.
"Every player improved this season as they gained match experience and developed their tennis strokes and footwork," Rogers said. "Unfortunately, seventeen of our seasoned players are graduating eighth graders. Coach Paterson and I will miss their leadership and teamwork."
SOFTBALL
The Vikings finished the season at 5-7 and had their chance to reach .500 thwarted when the season’s final two games with Immaculate and New Egypt were rained out.
The Vikings will lose just three eighth-graders in Lisa Faraci, Tori Faranick and Kim Wright. The core of the team returns, including speedy 7h-graders Sarah DiLella at shortstop and Arianna Joyce at third base, along with Kate Johnson in center field and Clara Maselli, the team’s most improved player, in left. Crafty hurler Deanna Boehm will also return for one more year.
The sixth-grade class gained valuable experience against tougher opponents. Carly O’Brien was pressed into the catching duties and showed tremendous courage and improvement. Jenna Panconi and Kirsten Holswade split time at second base and should be even better next year.
But one individual who will not return is second-year coach Cristina Alaya.
"Coach Alaya has done a tremendous job here and will be sorely missed," assistant coach Dave Boehm said. "There is no doubt in my mind that next year’s seventh and eighth-graders will go out on that field wanting to succeed for their former head coach, that’s much these kids respect her."
Cranbury went from 3-10-1 to 5-7 this year and hope to finish over .500 in 2006.
