Diablos Beat Foothill Amid Tears

In a match filled with tears and emotion, Mission Viejo defeated Foothill, 15-3, in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division II boys’ tennis playoffs Wednesday at Mission Viejo.

The match, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, was delayed so Foothill team member Ryan Katzman and family could bury sister Mackenzie, who died Friday. She was 5.

“It’s a match I’ll never forget,” Mission Viejo Coach Bill Smith said. “I said a few words before we played. I could barely get the words out, I was so emotional. It was very difficult for all concerned.”

Smith said he bought black wrist bands for his players to wear in memory of Katzman’s sister.

“Ryan, who played, came up to me, along with his father and mother, and thanked me for my words. But I really wasn’t that articulate. I’m a very emotional guy,” Smith said.

Eric Bachelor, Mission Viejo’s No. 1 singles player, beat Katzman, John Goss and Jared Goodman by 6-0 scores. Bachelor’s season record is 59-3. Foothill finished the season at 14-7.

Mission Viejo (20-3) will host Westlake Village Westlake, runner-up last season in Division III, in the semifinals at 3:15 p.m. today. Westlake moved up to Division II this year and will be facing Mission Viejo for the first time.

“I think we have a good chance to beat them,” Smith said. “. . . They’re not used to traveling. And they have to make the two-hour trip to come to us.”