Hammond Plays Two Roles at Ojai

University High Coach Jeff Hammond pulled double-duty at last week’s Ojai tournament. Hammond was not only serving as Aaron Yovan’s on-court strategist, but also as his scout. For most of the boys’ interscholastic singles tournament, the arrangement worked pretty well. Hammond would scout Yovan’s next opponent, develop a game plan, and Yovan would follow it.

After watching Patrick Buchanan of Servite go through Sergiu Modoc of El Dorado in the semifinals, Hammond thought he had designed the perfect plan for Yovan in the finals.

“[Buchanan] slugged it against Modoc and he was hitting his shots as hard as he could,” Hammond said. “But it appeared he changed his style from the semis to the finals. He played a much more patient game against Aaron. That was really impressive.”

Buchanan led early and then hung on for a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 victory.

“We had to switch tactics in the second and third sets,” Hammond said. “Aaron started playing much more aggressively. It’s not high-percentage tennis, but it worked for a set.”

It worked until Yovan’s legs started cramping in the third set. Considering he played his fifth match in 48 hours, Yovan later reconsidered his strategy.

“I really had to have that first set,” he said. “I was tired and I knew I wouldn’t have much left at the end. I probably should have gone for my shots earlier.”

Servite Coach Dick Fumanti said Buchanan wasn’t exactly spry in the third set either.

“Patrick was leaning on the fence when he sees Yovan on the ground,” Fumanti said. “Immediately he starts jogging, so he could get the psychological advantage.”

A LOOK AHEAD

The Southern Section individual tournament doesn’t begin for another 3 1/2 weeks, but qualifying begins today at Corona del Mar and the Balboa Bay Club for Yovan and the rest of the Pacific Coast League. Yovan and Corona del Mar’s Cameron Ball are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in singles.

The top two singles players and doubles teams qualify for the sectional tournaments, May 19.

Buchanan is seeded first at Serra League qualifying, which is Thursday and Friday at Santa Margarita High. Teammate Jonathan Sanchez, who lost in the quarterfinals to eventual Ojai boys’ 16 champion Doug Stewart of Malibu, is seeded second.

Dana Hills and Capistrano Valley will meet at 2:30 today at Dana Hills to decide the South Coast League title.

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BOYS’ TENNIS TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School League Rec 1. Corona del Mar (1) Pacific Coast 18-0 2. Los Alamitos (2) Sunset 15-2 3. Servite (3) Serra 18-0 4. University (8) Pacific Coast 13-7 5. Woodbridge (4) Sea View 14-4 6. Capistrano Valley (6) South Coast 13-0 7. Troy (6) Freeway 16-3 8. Dana Hills (7) South Coast 12-4 9. Canyon (9) Century 14-3 10. Sunny Hills (10) Freeway 11-4

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Others: Los Amigos (18-1), Santa Margarita (12-6), Irvine (12-4), Mater Dei (14-4), Esperanza (15-3).

Last week’s rankings in parentheses