August 2, 2019 – The rain gods have not been good to the Springdale Area Recreation Club when it comes to hosting a Raleigh Pro League match. Similar to last year, the bottom dropped out just as play was ready to begin. Before the rain, the crowd enjoyed watching and playing Pickleball and partaking in some pre-match beverages to get ready for cheering on the Pro League players. But alas, it was not to happen and the match was moved to the indoor facility at Raleigh Racquet Club where Team Wake Orthopaedics put together their best performance of the season to win over Team Mosquito Authority and secure a spot in the playoffs.
Mixed doubles finished first as Wake Ortho’s Lilo Pelegrino and league newcomer Hannah Lebowitz won 6-1 6-4 over Team Mosquito Authority’s Alix Theodossiou and Shaun Romisher. The Women’s court was next off with Wake Ortho’s Caylan Ashworth and Liz Perkins winning over the Skeeter’s Meghan Coomes and Kelly Riely 6-2 6-2. On the Men’s 2 court, Team Mosquito’s Jas Schmitt and David Marquina split sets with Wake Ortho’s Glen Kitner and Justin Roberson. Schmitt/Marquina jumped out to an early lead in the 3rd set tiebreak and held on to take the court 10-8 and give Mosquito Authority a team point. With Wake Ortho up 2 courts to 1, all eyes turned to the Men’s 1 court. Wake Ortho’s Ben Wagland and Sam Williams won the 1st set in a tiebreak over Mosquito Authority’s Paul-Henri Arrigoni and Michael Ogden. The teams stayed on serve in the second. At 5-6 with Arrigoni serving, Wagland/Williams got the break to take the court and give Team Wake Ortho the win for the evening.
The win moved Team Wake Orthopaedics into second place in the league and secured their spot in the playoffs. Team Mosquito Authority will have to wait until next Friday for the outcome of the match between Team Brier Creek Orthodontics and Home Team Greer to see if they will be playing on August 16.