Clarkston has kept a fairly even keel regular season in OAA II play (2-1-2). Their final week of the regular season exemplified that perfectly, as the Wolves closed out the campaign 1-1-1.
Saturday played out much like the match-play season, when the Wolves took third place in the six-team conference tournament at Troy Athens. The hosting Redhawks took off with the competition, finishing with 41 points, followed by Rochester (29) and the Wolves (28).
Clarkston’s placing at the tournament determined a second-place tie with Rochester in the final division standings.
Brett McMillen took second place at No. 3 singles and Erik Ejups rode a three-game winning streak to a first place finish at No. 4 singles for Clarkston. Clarkston’s No. 2 doubles team of Derek Boatman and Jason Dutcher went 2-1 on the day for a second place finish.
Clarkston heads into its regional playoff at Utica Eisenhower Thursday through Saturday. The field includes notable competition such as West Bloomfield, Birmingham Brother Rice, Eisenhower, Rochester and Lake Orion. Clarkston has seen three of its main competitors this season, going 2-1. At the 2006 regional playoff, the Wolves came within a point of keeping Eisenhower from the state finals.
Clarkston coach Chaz Claus said West Bloomfield is the likely favorite for first place, but the field is wide open afterward. Last year’s field fought tooth and nail for the second-place spot and a chance at the state finals, leaving no one with enough points to qualify for the finals based on points.
‘There’s so many teams vying for that second spot, we beat each other up at every flight,? Claus said.
Claus expects a similar struggle from this year’s field. Each flight on the Wolves? roster will be called on to produce at the tournament.
‘Everyone needs to step up. You can’t do well when players are getting zeroes. Every single flight needs to score points,? Claus said.
Against Eisenhower May 7, the Wolves came up short, 5-3. McMillen, Ejups, Boatman and Dutcher were all winners at their flights.
‘We hung with them and we could have tied or beaten them,? Claus said.
‘We played alright, but there were a few flights we could have won, but we didn’t.?
The Wolves tied visiting Rochester Hills Stoney Creek May 8, 4-4. No. 1 singles Chris Graczyk lost to Jon Schoenhals, a top competitor in OAA II, 6-2, 6-2.
?(Schoenhals) is consistent and able to turn your best shots to his advantage. Chris played a tough match and hit some good shots even though the score doesn’t necessarily indicate it,? Claus said.
Zach Kerr dropped a 6-0, 6-1 match to Kyle Campbell at No. 2 singles, setting up a tough task for the remaining Clarkston players on the courts.
?(Stoney Creek) is really strong at the top and we would have had to win five of the next six flights. We made a good run of it, but we couldn’t put it together.?