Ball’s Growing Pains Open Door for Li

Growing up is becoming a big pain for Corona del Mar’s Cameron Ball. Saturday, Ball, the Pacific Coast League singles champion, was forced to withdraw from the Southern Section individual tennis championships because of pain in his legs caused by a recent growth spurt.

“He is so stiff and sore,” Corona del Mar Coach Tim Mang said. “He just couldn’t do it. He’s grown about five inches in the last year and it’s really taking a toll on his body.”

Mang went through the same thing with Taylor Dent--now on the professional tour--so he gave Ball, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, the day off Thursday when Corona del Mar defeated Irvine in the team playoffs.

“I just told him he needed to get some rest so he’d be ready for [Saturday],” Mang said. “But when he showed up this morning he could hardly move.”

Ball told University Coach Jeff Hammond to call Jack Li, the Pacific Coast League’s third-place finisher, to replace him. Not a bad position for the freshman, who went from not qualifying to taking over Ball’s top-seeded spot in the 32-player bracket at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center, one of four tournament locations.

Li, however, was not overjoyed by the early-morning wake-up call.

“I was tired and a little sore,” said Li, the Trojans’ No. 3 singles player. “I just wanted to take a few days off.”

However, after a first-round bye, Li defeated his next two opponents to advance to Friday’s round of 16 at SeaCliff Tennis Club.

In his third-round match, Li saw a familiar face across the net, Servite’s Pat Buchanan. The two often practice together and Li said their matches always go three sets. On Saturday it was no different.

Li easily won the first set, 6-1, but Buchanan came back and won the second, 6-2. Li turned up the power on his forehand and eliminated Buchanan, 10-4, in a USTA 10-point match tiebreaker, a new rule adopted this year by the Southern Section.

“I know how he plays,” Li said. “I knew I had to get on him quick. The only way to beat him is to overpower him. I don’t usually hit that hard.”

Li’s teammate, sophomore Aaron Yovan, also advanced. Yovan, who lost to Ball in the league final, registered convincing victories over Woodbridge’s Brett Van Ling, 6-0, 6-0, and Brentwood’s Sean McKean, 6-1, 6-3.

Palos Verdes Peninsula’s Jeff Kazarian defeated Capistrano Valley senior Mike Nguyen, who will be playing tennis at California next year, 6-4, 6-0. Peninsula’s Rylan Rizza eliminated Santa Margarita’s Garrett Snyder, 6-3, 6-4.

In doubles, Michael Bean and Peter Kulmaticki of Pacific Coast League champion Corona del Mar advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Bryan Benson and Robbie L’Amour of Santa Margarita. Chad Widtfeld and Derek Klunchoo of Capistrano Valley defeated Canyon’s Kevin Saman and Travis Kula, 6-2, 6-3, to also advance.