Finals Picture Comes Into Focus

On April 12, 2014, Team Maine travels to Pyramids DGC in Leicester, MA--the site of their 22-14 pummeling of Central Worcester in November.  This time, the reward is greater.  Up for grabs is the 2014 Team Challenge Cup.  Team Maine finished 2nd in 2013, faltering in the 3rd (final) round against Team Cranbury.  Team Maine rides a #1 seed into finals this year, however.

"This time, we have a first round bye," noted Head Coach Jason Toothaker, "I think that will help in the later round, as we won't be laboring as much as we were going into our 3rd round last year.  I'm looking forward to two well played rounds by Team Maine.  We'll play our best players, and we'll head home happy."

There are three teams that could potentially have the misfortune of facing off against Maine in the second round, Cranbury (defeated Maine 21-16 at Cranbury Park), Wickham (lost to Maine 23.5-9.5 at Maine), and Burgess (lost to Maine 14-12 at Maine).

Round 1:
Cranbury (5) vs. Burgess (4)
Crane (3) vs. Wickham (6)

Round 2:
Maine (1) vs. worst remaining seed
NASA (2) vs. best remaining seed

Team Maine Defends Home Turf Against Burgess; Claims Top Seed For Finals

Team Maine edged Team Burgess on Saturday, March 22nd to claim the #1 seed for NETC Finals, after posting a 5-1 regular season record.  Maine led the match 10-3 after the singles round.  Burgess responded with a 9-4 score in doubles, but it wasn't enough to steal the win from the home-dominant Maine squad.

The loss means Burgess needs a win next week at home against NASA to retain their spot in the A-Pool again next year.

"I would like to thank the players for all they have done all year," said Head Coach Jason Toothaker after the win, "they never gave up and consistently did what they needed to do for the good of the team, even if it meant sitting out a round."

Maine heads into finals with the #1 seed, guaranteeing them a first-round bye and the opportunity to play the weakest team to survive the first round.

Maine wraps up their season with another undefeated record at home (3-0) and 2-1 on the road, losing only to defending champions Cranbury Park.  Through 2 seasons in the A-Pool, Maine is 8-4 in the regular season.

Team Maine Squeaks Road Win Against Maple Hill

On Saturday, March 1st, Team Maine overcame a 3-point deficit at the break to edge out Team Maple Hill at Maple Hill DGC in Leicester, MA.  The teams played on 2 different course layouts, each incorporating holes from the Red, White, Blue and Gold courses.  After trailing 9.5-6.5 following the singles round, Maine took 5 of 8 matches in the second round for a 10-6 tally in doubles play; Maine won on the day, 16.5-15.5.

"As a team, we struggled a bit in singles," said Ryan Bourque of Team Maine, "in doubles, we played strong and did what we needed to do for the W."

The 1-point difference was the smallest margin of victory Maine has ever had in 3 years of NETC competition.  "What an exhilarating win," stated Head Coach Jason Toothaker, following the challenge, "taking these guys down at home is the boost we need down this final stretch.  We're setting things up very well for ourselves."

While the loss for Maple created an unfavorable scenario in terms of their ability to qualify for NETC Finals on April 12, the win by Maine cemented them as a contender for one of two first round byes in the finals tournament.  Maine would clinch the #1 seed with a NASA road loss to Burgess as well as a March 22nd win over Burgess.  Regardless of potential scenarios, Maine appears to be in the driver's seat for finals.

Notes: 

• Mike Cole emerges as the only player to record a singles win in all 5 team challenges this year.  He has beaten Bill Stewart (NASA), Bob Direnzo (CW), Whit Cooper (Cranbury), Shawn Mullen (Wickham), and Mike Zorovich (Maple Hill). 
• Jason Dore loses his first singles match of the season.  Kevin Gardner took the singles matchup, ending Dore's undefeated streak.  
• With the score 15.5-14.5 in favor of Maple Hill, players from both teams gathered in the parking lot awaiting the results of the Brendan Johnson/Jacob Fowlie vs. David Jenkins/Paul Fleming match.  The win by Johnson and Fowlie gave Maine the win and cause for raucous celebration.
• Maine's next challenge is at home against Burgess at Woodland Valley DGC on Saturday, March 22nd.  

(Photos from the event will be posted soon)

Results: 

Singles:
Jon Sellers def John Williston
Mike Cole def Mike Zorovich
Nick Blouin def Devon Labelle
Caleb Biggers def Pete Ricciardi
Sam Pease def Wendy Boutin

Darby O'Leary pushes Brian Thompson
Bryan Jordan pushes Shahin Azarbin
Nicole Dionisio pushes Erin Tivnan

Kevin Gardner def Jason Dore
David Hoey def Ryan Bourque
Paul Fleming def Jon Borenstein
Steve Dodge def Mitch Blodget
Shaun LaForce def Brendan Johnson
David Jenkins def Jim Bouffard
Greg Aucoin def Jacob Fowlie
Andrew Streeter def Ben Dunlap

Maine 6.5
Maple Hill 9.5

Doubles:
Bryan/Cole def Hoey/Streeter
Brendan/Fowlie def Jenkins/Fleming
Blouin/Bourque def Dodge/Szczapanek
Dore/Mitch def Williston/Shahin
Sam/Pickle def Wendy/Erin

Aucoin/LaForce def Sellers/BennyD
Gardner/Labelle def Caleb/Borenstein
Cuzz/Zoro def JimmyB/Darby

Maine 10
Maple Hill 6