HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS : Rain Interrupts Singles Matches

All match long, the games of Chris Tontz and Jerry Miyamoto seemed to come and go like the weather. So maybe it was fitting that the weather got to Tontz and Miyamoto on Thursday at Morley Field.

With top-seeded Miyamoto of Patrick Henry leading fourth-seeded Tontz of University of San Diego High, 5-4, in the deciding third set, a misty rain postponed the boys’ individual singles semifinal until 1 p.m. today.

University City’s Joe Barbarie and La Jolla’s James Conda were having the same kind of match before rain stopped it. Barbarie won the first set, 6-2. Conda, seeded third, came back to win the second, 7-5, and Barbarie led, 1-0, in third when the rains came.

Tontz and his inconsistent serve lost the first set, 6-1. But he rediscovered it in the second set and won, 6-4. Miyamoto rallied from a 4-2 deficit to lead 5-4 in the third set.

When the match resumes, Tontz, who had eight double faults in the first two sets, will be serving.

“I’m just going to have to concentrate,” Tontz said. “In the first set, my serve was really bad. I was going for too much. But I was serving a lot better after that. I hope the break doesn’t affect me.”

Conda said he was getting his rhythm when the rains came.

“I was a little bit scared at first,” he said. “I wasn’t hitting out. I think I took (Barbarie) too lightly.”

Earlier, the sixth-seeded Barbarie upset second-seeded Jonathon Elsberry of La Jolla, 6-7 (7-5), 7-5, 6-3. In the final two games, Elsberry suffered leg cramps. By the last game, Elsberry could not move, and he was broken at love.

The doubles’ semifinals were finished. La Jolla’s Simon Kurth and Jon Gilula defeated Mattias Milkereit and Peter McKinlay of San Pasqual, 6-1, 6-1, in one semifinal. Torrey Pines’ top-seeded team of Christian Abbott and Derek Baker defeated third-seeded Joe Tontz and Jerry Prior of USDHS, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

The doubles final begins at 2 and the singles final is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.