On Sunday 9/23/07 8am with many viewers on the tennis sideline, the formidable #1 seeded women's doubles players of Marcia Penning/Judy Griffith were unstoppable as they pulverized the opposing team of Nancy Whitney/Naomi Subala to capture the first annual qualifying level championship at Trilogy in Rio Vista.
Marcia and Judy will soon be on their way to Vistancia, Peoria, Arizona where hopefully will reign as the first champion of The First Annual All Trilogy Tennis Tournament.
Nevermind that Marcia spent months nourishing an injured shoulder, nevermind that she hasn't held a tennis racket in months and nevermind that at the beginning of the match she missed three shots at the net that she normally could place easily when she is not rusty because once she got those things out of her system, it was back to business as usual. To put everybody on notice that she came to play and win, she started with a drop shot where her racket was only about six inches from the net and the ball dropped only about six inches on the other side of the net.Roger Federer, the world's #1 player, would have a tough time duplicating that shot.
Then Marcia started placing the balls that only players who actually believe in the Trilogy slogan NEW BEGINNINGS could retrieve.On the sideline, Kathie Zirretta must have uttered these words four times, "MARCIA IS SHOWING NO MERCY."
Chuck Williams, an underpaid scorekeeper, while watching some great shots, became mesmerized and forgot his scorekeeping job several times but Orlando Devera who had the uncanny ability to watch everything, filled in for Chuck.
Nancy and Naomi did display some spectacular shots. On the forehand side, Nancy caught Marcia dashing to the center of the net to poach and Nancy hit a magnificent solid shot deep and straight down the line for a winner. Then on one point, Marcia placed a ball to the far outer line to the ad side almost out of reach for any human being, but Naomi with the move that only Venus Williams could possibly reach with split legs, did get to the ball and almost produced a winner.
However, Nancy and Naomi just could not keep up with Judy and Marcia and were not able to regain the shots that they displayed during the semi-final event. They know that if they have to face Marcia and Judy again, they can produce the shots they are capable of doing.
While Marcia was taking care of business at the net, Judy was doing what she does best when she has a good net partner and that is running from side to side at the baseline, scrounging and returning balls to the opponents. She was a strategist, setting up shots for Marcia to put away. She was also busy figuring out what to do with the deep high lobs from Noami and Nancy.
The mix doubles tournament match is this week. The first mix doubles match is on Tuesday 9/25/07 8am between Kathy Zirretta/Dave Hinders and Iris Lucero/Chuck Williams. On the same day at 4pm, Naomi Subala/Orlando Devera go against Alice Hill/Joe Downes. Let's all come out and watch these two exciting matches!!!!! I am going to be out of town tomorrow and I am going to be asking Chuck to be my tournament official and the sportswriter.
George Sablan
Director of Player Development
