It was an early exit from the playoffs for the Bishop Diego boys tennis team, which fell to St, Joseph 15-3 in the first round of the CIF playoffs Thursday.
Jordan Ekola went 2-1 and Nick Mathis picked up the Cardinals’ other set, but Bishop was missing No. 2 singles player Matthew Grimes due to a back injury, which changed the make-up of the match considerably according to coach Ray “Slash” Vazquez.
The team, which finished at 12-5 and won a league title for the first time since 1972, returns all but four players next year.
Vazquez thanked seniors Ekola, Daniel Helkey and the “Touchdown Twosome” of R.J. Escamilla and Art Gonzalez for their work ethic and leadership.
ST. JOSEPH 15, BISHOP DIEGO 3
Singles — SJ: Jake Eszes 3-0, ADunn 2-1, Matt Hiltner 1-2. BD: Jordan Ekola 2-1, Nick Mathis 1-2, Nolan Tisdale 0-3.
Doubles — SJ: Tyler Hamness-Jacob Goeres 3-0, James King-Taylor Monroy 3-0, Brian Turton-Niall Johnson 3-0. BD: Sean Strathford-Jones-Tim Illjen 0-3, RJ Escamilla-Art Gonzalez 0-3, Nick Lensander- Aaron Rubio 0-2, Max Heitmann-Daniel Helkey 0-1.
