SOUTHERN SECTION TENNIS PLAYOFFS : Esperanza Stops Laguna Beach to Reach 3-A Final

The Esperanza boys’ tennis team made some school history Thursday. Laguna Beach, however, just repeated some.

The Aztecs advanced to their first Southern Section Division 3-A final with an 11-7 victory over Laguna Beach in a semifinal match at Esperanza.

Second-seeded Esperanza (22-0) will meet top-seeded San Marino for the championship Wednesday.

Laguna Beach’s defeat marked the fourth time in five years that the Artists have fallen in the 3-A semifinals. Laguna Beach, champion of the Pacific Coast League, finishes 16-8.

Mike Hammer, who swept at No. 1 singles, 7-5, 6-2, was a member of last year’s Aztec team that entered the playoffs unbeaten only to be upset in the quarterfinals by La Quinta.

“We were a young team last year and we learned from that loss,” Esperanza Coach Jean Agee said. “We’re much more focused in the playoffs this year.”

The Aztecs were especially focused in the final round. Esperanza won five of the last six sets to break the 6-6 tie, which was established by Laguna Beach with a strong second round.

Esperanza won all three singles sets in the third round, including Hammer’s 6-2 victory over Bobby Nichols to clinch the victory. Although Hammer was the only Aztec to sweep, the doubles teams of Alex Contes-Jeff Lawson and Sharif Elbayoumy-Alex Valle each won two sets, as did No. 3 singles player Dan Harris.

“We’ve been coming on strong in the third round all year,” Agee said. “I’m elated. We made history by getting to the semifinals, and now we’re going to go for it all in the finals.”

Laguna Beach’s No. 1 doubles team of Jay Tonkon and Elliott West swept, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1, and Bobby Nichols won two sets at No. 2 singles.