By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Netters Nail Down Top TVL Honors
ZACH
Escalon player Zach Mando makes a return in league action earlier this year. He helped the Cougars to a perfect 10-0 Trans-valley League record and the league tennis title. - photo by Marg Jackson/The Times

Once again at the top of the heap, Escalon tennis players took the Trans-Valley League Title with a perfect 10-0 record.

“We won against Ripon 9-0 to end the season,” coach Dan Thompson said of undefeated romp, culminating with the title on April 23.

In the match, Parker Pilati and Taylor Laugero were winners at girls singles, while Zach Mando and Rafael Felix cruised in their boys singles matches. First boys doubles team was Alex Sjoling and Ashton Redberg, with Marc Ney and Everardo Peralta nailing down a win at boys second doubles.

Taylor Busch and Maggie Casteel took an easy win in first girls doubles, as did second girls Clare Fitzgerald and Josie Redberg. Mixed doubles Frank Perez and Kaitlynn Mayfield were solid as well.

On Friday, the squad suited up for the TVL Tournament at the SOS Club in Modesto and came home with the bulk of the honors.

“We took five out of seven titles, an incredible showing,” said Thompson.

The girls singles title went to Parker Pilati, while the runner up was Taylor Laugero.

In boys singles play, both Rafael Felix and Zach Mando lost in the semifinals, Mando to a Riverbank opponent and Felix to an Orestimba player, who went on to top Riverbank for the singles crown.

Escalon also grabbed title in mixed doubles, with Frank Perez and Kaitlynn Mayfield earning their first TVL title, while both girls doubles teams came home champions, Maggie Casteel with Taylor Busch and Clare Fitzgerald and Josie Redberg.

The first boys doubles team of Alex Sjoling and Ashton Redberg was also a league champion.

“We had a really good result of the TVL tournament in that we have 10 kids going to Sections in Stockton at Oak Park on Thursday,” Thompson said of the next stop for the team.

Representing the team will be Pilati and Laugero in girls singles, two boys doubles teams with Felix and Mando as one entry, Sjoling and Redberg the other.

“The way they’re playing I wouldn’t be surprised to see an all Escalon final,” Thompson admitted of the boys doubles competition.

Busch and Casteel will be Escalon’s girls doubles entry, Perez and Mayfield will take the court for mixed doubles.

The Cougars were slated to start Team Section play on Tuesday, after The Times went to press, hosting Center, the second place team from the Pioneer Valley League.

“They were second in their league to Placer, and they have a really good number one girl but I’m pretty optimistic we can get through them,” said Thompson.