FREMONT AT MOUNTAIN VIEW-FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007

By Mark Johnson

The Mountain View Marauders will try to return to their winning ways in this home match against the Fremont Flash after suffering their first loss of the season in their previous match on the road against the Concord Cheetahs.  For the Fremont Flash it will be just the opposite as they hope to extend their winning streak after coming off their first win of the season in their previous match --- a home match against the Palo Alto Assassins.  The Marauders defeated the Flash in Fremont earlier this season but both squads have different lineups for this match than they had in that one.

Ankur Patel (Fremont) vs. Sean Lee (Mountain View)

The opening match pits former USA Cadet Boys team member and aspiring 2007 USA Junior Boys team member Sean Lee against fast improving junior Ankur Patel.  Ankur holds a narrow lead for much of the first game but Sean is able to draw even at 9-9 with his serve to come and wins both service points to win it 11-9.  In the second game Ankur pulls away to an 8-2 lead and is leading 9-4 when Sean wins the next five points to pull even once again at 9-9 --- only this time it is Ankur’s serve.  Ankur takes the next point to get to game point at 10-9 only to see Sean take the next three points (the last on a missed serve by Ankur!) to win the game 12-10 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.  The third game starts out even with the score tied at 4-4 and then 5-5.  Sean takes the next point to lead 6-5 when Shashin calls a time out for the Flash.  The time out proves very effective as Ankur takes the next six points (!) to win the third game 11-6.  In the fourth game Sean seems to be comfortably on his way to victory leading 6-2 only to see Ankur win the next four points to draw even at 6-6.  Sean edges ahead to get two match points at 10-8 but Ankur is serving.  Ankur is able to win both of his service points to get the game to deuce but Sean wins the next two points to take the game 12-10 and the match 3-1.  The Marauders lead the tie 1-0.   

Shashin Shodhan (Fremont) vs. Henry Sit (Mountain View) 

Henry Sit is coming off an impressive win over Philip Lim in his previous league match but has another tough test with this match against 2000 USA Olympic alternate Shashin Shodhan.  The first game stays fairly close throughout with each player controlling their service points.  So it is not too surprising when Henry recovers from a 7-9 deficit to bring the game even at 9-9 by winning both his service points.  However, surprisingly Shashin loses both his service points for the first time in the match and thus Henry is able to steal the first game 11-9.  Shashin again has an early lead at 3-1 in the next game only to see Henry sweep his service points one more time to draw even at 3-3.  Only Shashin dominates the game from that point on and takes it easily 11-4.  The critical third game of the match is tied at 6-6 when Shashin once again takes control to pull away for an 11-7 win.  In the fourth game Shasin takes control early with a 5-1 lead when Wilson Tsao calls a time out for the Marauders.  However it doesn’t have near the effectiveness of the Fremont time out in the previous match as the players merely trade points from that point on so Shashin wins the game handily at 11-5 and the match 3-1.  The tie now stands even at 1-1.

Nash Darukhanawalla (Fremont) vs. Michael Sung (Mountain View)

Neither of the previous two match-ups had taken place in the first Flash – Marauder tie in Fremont.  This would again be the case in the third match as Nash Darukhanawalla would face the powerful forehand loop of Michael Sung for the first time.  Nash has a nice forehand loop himself, but unfortunately for him he did not get a chance to use it very often.  Whether Nash was serving or returning serve, typically it was Michael opening first and the point would end right there --- with Michael winning it if it was in (as it usually was) and, of course, losing it if it was out.  Michael takes the match comfortably in three straight games --- 11-6, 11-7, and 11-6.  The Marauders now lead the tie 2-1.  

Shashin Shodhan/Ankur Pater (Fremont) vs. Wilson Tsao/Henry Sit (Mountain View)

This is the first repeat of a match that had taken place in Fremont.  In that match, the team of Wilson Tsao and Henry Sit had defeated the team of Shashin Shodham and Ankur Patel quite handily in three straight games.  The first game proved to be an indicator that this match would be more competitive than that one.  The Marauders held the early advantage at 8-6 only to see the game tied at 8-8 and 9-9 before the game went to deuce.  They were able to get a game point at 11-10 before the Flash fought back to win the next three points and the game 13-11.  In the second game the Marauders clawed out to a slim 7-5 lead before the Flash roared back to take six of the next seven points to win it 11-8 and go ahead in the match 2-0.  The Marauders dominated the third game winning it 11-5 to send this match into a fourth game.  The Flash established a lead early at 5-3 and extended it to 8-5 before the Marauders called a time out in an attempt to stop their momentum.  Only the Flash won the next two points to have five match points at 10-5.  The Marauders were able to save two of them but fell in this game 11-7 and in this match 3-1.  The tie is once again dead even, this time at 2-2.

Shashin Shodhan (Fremont) vs. Sean Lee (Mountain View)

This match between the two aces of their respective teams would undoubtedly be the key one of this tie.  This was another repeat of a match that had occurred in the earlier tie in Fremont.  Sean’s upset victory over Shashin in that tie had keyed the Marauders victory then.  The first game here would be an indication of what kind of epic struggle was in store.  Sean appeared in control when he extended an early 7-5 lead to 9-5 by winning both his service points.  Even though Shashin was able to win both his service points to narrow the score to 9-7, Sean took the next point to have three game points at 10-7 --- the first one on his own serve.  But Shashin fought like a warrior to reach deuce and even had a game point of his own at 11-10 by taking the next four points.  Sean saved that one only to face another at 11-12.  Once again Sean saved it though and won the next point as well to get another game point at 13-12.  But once again Shashin fought back and won the next three points to take this hard fought game 15-13.  Shashin looked to be in good position after taking the first two points of the second game to lead 2-0 when Sean stiffened to take the next five to lead 5-2.  Sean played steadily and extended the lead to 10-5.  Shashin could save only one game point before succumbing 11-6 and so the match was tied at a game apiece.  Sean tried to wrest control of this match as the third game started and was able to take a 7-3 lead.  Shashin narrowed the score to 7-5 but Sean was able to steady himself to lead 10-7.  Shashin saved another game point but Sean won this game 11-8 and now led the match 2-1.  Once again in the fourth game Sean appears in control only to watch Shashin battle back to close the score to 8-6 in Sean’s favor.  The Marauders call a time out to try and gain back the momentum and this time it works as Sean carries on to lead 10-7 before winning the game 11-7 and this critical match 3-1.  The Marauders now lead the tie 3-2.       

Nash Darukhanawalla (Fremont) vs. Henry Sit (Mountain View)

These two had never played previously but their respective ratings would indicate that --- at least on paper --- this should be a fairly easy match for the Marauders.  Well --- ladies and gentlemen --- that is why they play the games.  The two play similar styles of play with service, service return, and overall technique favoring Henry.  Yet the first game was close at 4-4 and then 8-8 before Henry won the final three points to take it 11-8 and lead in the match 1-0.  Henry appeared to assert his control of the match when he led 6-2 in the next game when Nash gets an edge to close it to 6-3.  This changes the momentum as Nash quickly ties the game at 6-6 by taking the next three points as well.  But Henry wrests back control by taking the next two points to lead 8-6.  This quickly turns to 10-6 as Nash misses both his next serves (the service advantage for Henry mentioned previously was intended to refer to his ability to serve-and-attack more readily --- not the fact that he served out less often … J ).  Henry wins the next point on serve to win the second game 11-6 and lead in the match 2-0.  The Marauders are now just a game from claiming victory in the tie.  Henry seems to have a hammer lock on the match as he serves leading 5-1 when Shashin calls a timeout for the Flash.  Again it works for the Flash as Nash wins the next four points to even the game at 5-5.  The game is tight from that point on with a score of 8-8 before it eventually reaches deuce.  Henry wins the next point to get a game, match, and tie point at 11-10 before Nash wins the next three points to win it at 13-11 and send this match to a fourth game.  Henry gets a good start in that game when he is up 3-1 when he too misses both his serves (what’s up, here?) to tie it up at 3-3.  Still he looks to be in excellent position again as he leads 10-8 for two more game, match, and tie points --- although Nash is serving.  Nash not only wins those two points but the next two as well to take the fourth game 12-10 and send this match to a fifth and deciding game.  Henry once again has the early lead as he leads 5-2 as the players switch ends.  He extends it to 6-2 and the two players trade points after that until the score is 10-5 in Henry’s favor --- another five game, match, and tie points.  Only this time Henry will have none of it and wins the next point  to win the game 11-5 and the match 3-2.  So the Marauders finally take the tie 4-2.

The Mountain View Marauders record improves to 5-1 while the Fremont Flash record drops to 1-6.   The Fremont Flash record coupled with the San Francisco Furies record of 1-6 means that the final record of neither of those two teams can pass or even equal the final record of the Marauders --- and thus the Marauders have clinched a spot in this season’s playoffs!  The Flash (and the Furies for that matter) haven’t been eliminated from the playoffs yet either.  But they will have to turn their season around and also get some help by teams losing in front of them to do it.