TENNIS : Franklin Defeats Bell in First Round of Playoffs

The Bell High boys’ tennis team’s run at a second consecutive appearance in the City Section 3-A Division finals ended last Tuesday at Harbor College.

The Eagles were upset 17-12 1/2 by Franklin in the first round.

“I take the blame for the loss due to the inexperence on my part,” Bell first-year coach William Sune said. “By me not really knowing the talent on the team, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the team or the kids.”

Franklin’s doubles teams were the difference, winning six sets.

Bell was able to receive good singles play from No. 1 player Jaime Cruz. Cruz, a senior, lost his first set to Yim Tse, 4-6. But Cruz defeated Sor Ung, Sang Mac and Corey Thai by scores of 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

“I was nervous because I felt if I lost that we would lose the match,” Cruz said.

The Eagles No. 2 singles player, Oscar De La Rosa, easily won all four of his sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.

“I kept playing agressively and I never thought I was going to lose a point,” said De La Rosa, a senior. “I hit some good shots and played defense. I was in a zone.”

Bell’s doubles teams did not perform up to its expectations.

The Eagles’ top doubles tandem of Eduardo Ortiz and Thomas Enriquez went undefeated in their three doubles matches.

Franklin however was able to capitalize on Bell’s No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams.

Franklin’s Leng Hoang and Hung Ley, and Hoa Tran and Ying Rong combined to win six doubles matches.

“We were able to take advantage of the other team’s mistakes,” Franklin Coach Geoff Rauen said. “I felt we were evenly matched up and thought it could go either way.”

Franklin (8-6) will play the City’s No. 1 team Eagle Rock (12-0) this Tuesday at Eagle Rock.

Bell finished its season at 11-2.