SOUTHERN SECTION BADMINTON PLAYOFFS : Corona del Mar Defeats Marina in Quarterfinal

Corona del Mar’s No. 1 boys’ double team of Tim Wertin and Jason Eggleston won a decisive match over Marina’s No. 1 team of Jeremy Sandy and Alan Huang to lead the host Sea Kings to a 12-7 victory in the Southern Section Division I badminton quarterfinals Thursday.

The Sea Kings will face defending section champion Alhambra Keppel Monday in the semifinals. Keppel beat Bolsa Grande, 14-5, also Thursday.

“Our team did great,” Corona del Mar Coach Pat Wilson said. “When our No. 1 doubles team beat Marina’s No. 1 team, I think it was a big break for us.”

Wertin and Eggleston won the first game, 15-9. Sandy and Huang, Southern Section boys’ doubles semifinalists, took the second game, 15-11. Wertin and Eggleston regrouped and won the third game, 15-5.

“We tried to move them around and get more quick shots,” Wertin said of the third game. “We tried to control the birdie, and that was the key to our win.”

With the victory, the Sea Kings jumped to a 7-1 lead, after victories in boys’ and girls’ singles and Nos. 1 and 3 mixed doubles. Allysun Turner clinched the victory for the Sea Kings with an 11-12, 11-3, 11-5 victory over Kelly Nedderman in girls’ singles.

Jerome Payyak swept his singles matches for the Sea Kings, and teamed with Kerry Smith to win at mixed doubles. Smith and partner Trina Howard also swept their doubles matches.

Wertin and Eggleston won their second doubles match with a 15-2, 18-14 victory over Chin Pham and Son Huyuk.