Boys’ tennis: Brentwood gains advantage in Olympic League race

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Friday’s Olympic League rematch between Crossroads and Brentwood couldn’t have been more different than the teams’ first encounter, which was decided by three measly games.

Without top player Clay Thompson, the reigning CIF champion Roadrunners were no match for a fired-up Brentwood squad playing on its home courts and determined to avenge its only league loss. The result was a 15-3 drubbing by the Eagles, who will claim first place in league with victories in their final three matches against CAMS, Campbell Hall and Windward.

‘We decided to move our No. 1 player [Walker Kehrer] down to shore up our doubles because we felt confident that Chris Lord could get the job done,’ Brentwood assistant coach Spencer Wall said. ‘Honestly, the way we played today, I’m not sure it would’ve mattered how they arranged their lineup.’

Kehrer, who had swept at No. 1 singles in the previous match, this time won, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 doubles with partner Caleb Baer. It was Lord’s 6-3 victory over Alex Sohaili, however, that gave Brentwood a commanding 5-1 lead after one rotation of round-robin play.

At the same time the top-ranked Roadrunners were losing to their rivals, Thompson was winning at the Easter Bowl in Rancho Mirage. He advanced to the semifinals of the 16s division with a 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Zachary Leslie of San Diego.

Ranked No. 3 in Division III, the Eagles host Palos Verdes on Monday and travel to No. 2 Beverly Hills on Wednesday in a nonleague tussle that could determine who is awarded the top-seeded spot in the playoffs.

-- Steve Galluzzo

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