Piednippie returns to claim junior crown
Piednippie is celebrating after an emphatic win against Streaky Bay White to win the Streaky Bay/Wirrulla junior tennis 2019-20 grand final at Streaky Bay on Friday.
Piednippie had not fielded a junior team for five successive seasons before rejoining the junior competition last year and lost only once throughout the season.
The returning side also did it when it mattered, winning in the grand final five sets, 39 games to Streaky Bay White's four sets, 34 games.
At the start of the season the Baker children - Toby and Ruby - from Poochera joined the Piednippie squad to help make the team viable as Poochera did not have enough older children to form a team, but the hope is that Poochera will have a junior team for the 2020-21 season due to the regular coaching of Matthew Carey this year with the enthusiastic youngsters.
Friday's matches were played in blustery conditions and it was the Piednippie players who adapted to the conditions and played great doubles tennis to lead 2-1.
The premiership was done and dusted early with Toby Baker, Jack Kelsh and Eva Schmucker all winning their singles matches to see Piednippie win in five of the first six matches.
Streaky Bay White dropped last week's number three Eli Bagnell-Smith down to number five for the grand final which helped White pick up a couple of consolation sets at the end of the contest.
In the doubles, Toby Baker and Jack Kelsh defeated Brodie and Abbee Cash 6-1, as Eva Schmucker and Blain Brands downed Ruby Launer and Ashley Johnson 6-2 and Streaky's Eli Bagnell-Smith and Piper France got the better of Samson Schmucker and Ruby Baker 6-4.
Piednippie got the jump in the singles as Toby Baker defeated Brodie Cash 6-5, Jack Kelsh beat Abbee Cash 6-2 and Eva Schmucker was too good for Ruby Launer in a 6-0 win.
Streaky Bay White picked up late wins as Ashley Johnson got the better of Blain Brands 6-1, Eli Bagnell-Smith edged Samson Schmucker 6-4 and Piper France beat Ruby Baker 6-0.
Piednippie coach Shane Kelsh said the overall standard of tennis during the grand final was excellent, with many of the players at the top of their age groups for Eyre Peninsula.
He said the players would now be striving for selection to represent the Eyre Peninsula team in the Foundation Cup in Berri during the October school holidays.