Slow start doesn’t stop tennis team Brahmas nd success despite early season struggles

Jessica Boyer

A&E Editor

The Pierce College tennis team has almost reached the end of their season-long rollercoaster ride, with their final tournament coming in the first days of May.

The tennis team held a six game losing streak before singles player Richard Catabona won the Western State Conference tournament in early April.

“They did great for the players that we had,” said head coach of the men’s tennis team, Rajeev Datt. “I think we did a great job.”

The team was 9-10 overall against more than 10 teams in the Southern California region.

Two players dropped out at the beginning of the season due to personal circumstances.

“That hurt us,” Datt said. “The last rankings I saw, we were the number eight team in the south and we would have been higher with those players.”

Catabona is up for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association/ Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award, Thales Castro is up for the ITA Sophomore of the Year award, Sergey Arushanyan is a freshman and is up for the Rookie of the Year award and Player to Watch award, Datt said.

“The ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of varsity collegiate tennis players,” said Stephanie Neppl, director of communications for the ITA.

“The ITA, which is comprised of nearly 1,700 men’s and women’s varsity coaches and 20,000 student-athletes from over 1,200 institutions, has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership, sportsmanship and athletic performance. “ mentally.

Catabona and Castro were both semi-finalists in the WSC tournament and both stay on their game on the court and in school.

“All of these guys, they can work on improving their grades,” Datt said. “Catabona has a 3.8 GPA and is an Honor student and Castro has a 3.2 GPA. They need to work on getting that 4.0.

Catabona also recently received an acceptance letter to UCLA to the neuroscience department, Datt said.

The team has one more tournament, the Ojai Tournament beginning on April 24 and ending April 27.

“They’re all great guys, awesome men and a pleasure to be around,” Datt said.

“He’s a great guy. Good character. He knows what he’s doing,” Allonce said. “I enjoy the class because it’s going to help me when I reach the next level.”

Isaiah Lawrence, another defensive lineman for Pierce, said he loved the Krav Maga class because it helped him with hand placement and movement improvements.

It has also helped Lawrence with gaining leverage over opposing players in preparation for upcoming games.

Another Pierce defensive linemen Keontae Chavies said that he has seen improvements with his hands the most, and wants to improve every aspect of his game that he can.

“I look forward to learning more for the long run,” Chavies said. The class meets on Fridays from 4-5 p.m. at the football field.

Pierce had nine wins in their 16 game non-conference schedule and swept the season series against third ranked Santa Ana and also swept 11th ranked LA Mission.

For the Brahmas’ run to be successful through the playoffs, they’re going to need more than just their hitting. The Brahmas’ team ERA during the season was 5.45, which is the tenth worst of all the teams in California.

The Brahmas are going to need to improve their pitching, because let’s face it, playoff games are won and lost with how successful or unsuccessful your pitching is.

The lowest ERA for any Brahma pitcher was Brandon Ortega, whose average was 4.15. The only problem is Ortega is used as a reliever. The Brahmas cannot afford to give up huge leads early in ball games or else they will be out in the playoffs in a hurry.

Although the team has a high ERA, they have a bright spot in their starting rotation. Freshman Michael Knopf has emerged as a reliable pitcher and now is the face of the Brahmas’ starting rotation.

Summer 2014 Forecast:

Knopf finished off his last three games of the regular season going 2-1 and during those three games had an overall ERA of 3.88.

Not only does his ERA stand out, but he is also getting noticed for pitching past the fifth inning in all three of his last games. Pierce will need Knopf to account for the lack of depth, which has hurt them throughout the season.

The thing that has been lacking most this season for the Brahmas is their fielding. Their infield has been a roller coaster ride throughout the whole season.

Starting third baseman Alex Sawelson and shortstop Austin Peters combined for 32 errors the whole season with Peters accounting for 22 errors.

Head coach John Bushart, however, has stuck with Peters, who has made up for his inconsistent fielding by finishing the year hitting .341.

Although he batted ninth in the lineup this season, the Brahmas have benefited from having his depth in the lineup.

All things considered, the Brahmas success wasn’t improbable but there were indeed many questions. Out of Pierce’s 28 players, 20 of them were freshman. Also how would the Brahmas fare after starting pitcher Ritchie McWilliams went down with an early-season arm injury?

The Brahmas answered those questions by hitting the ball consistently and effectively and freshmen Joe Moran and Austin Peters proved that they could hold their own as starters.

Now the playoffs begin and it is a fresh start for everyone. The Brahmas will go on the road and face Cerritos College for a three game series. If Pierce’s defense can play with control and poise and the pitching can be good enough to keep the Brahmas in ball games, Pierce has as good of a shot as anyone in going deep this post-season.

Brainstorms EXPECTED –May through August

MAY 27–AUGUST 19 (12 weeks)

MAY 27–JULY 8 (6 weeks)

JULY 9–AUGUST 19 (6 weeks)

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