Hines Leads Saddleback to State Title in Tennis

Carl Hines won in singles and doubles play and Saddleback College defeated West Valley, 5-4, to win its third consecutive state tennis championship Friday at Westmont College.

Hines, the Gauchos’ No. 1 player, defeated Juan Lavalle, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4. Hines then teamed with Stan Sanders to defeat Lavalle and Mark Edmunds, 6-3, 6-2.

“Carl has been our bread and butter all season,” Saddleback Coach Bill Otta said. “We needed him to be strong today and he was.”

The state title was the fourth in seven years for Saddleback (24-0).