Central ends long district day in 7th

ST. LOUIS -- Thursday was a long day for the Central tennis team in the Class 2 District 1 tournament. And for all the effort involved, the Tigers had one victory and a seventh-place team finish to show for it.

The tournament began early Thursday morning at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park, but rain eventually resulted in an afternoon delay and finally a move to the indoor courts at the Vetta Club-Hampshire.

The day did not get off on the right foot for Central, which was five minutes late to the tournament. That meant each Central entry began their first matches trailing 1-0 and having to receive serve.

"I was pretty upset," said Central coach Bud Craven, who had coordinated tournaments for the expansive district over the last two years and never charged such a penalty with teams as much as 20 minutes late.

After a first-round bye, Central's doubles team of Carson Kelley and Alex Keis won in three sets in the second round against a team from St. Mary's. They lost 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals to fifth-seeded Brad Flick and Simon Lhotak of Webster Groves.

Central's other doubles entrant, David Deisher and David Berry, lost a three-set match in the opening round to a team from Mehlville.

Will LaFoe and Robert Weir both lost their first singles matches after receiving first-round byes. LaFoe, a sophomore, lost to fifth-seeded Andrew Pate of Rockwood Summit, 6-0, 6-0. Weir, a junior, fell 6-3, 6-4 to Keith Breir of Oakville.

Lindbergh won the team with 30.5 points. The singles championship was won by top-seeded Austin Kearney of Webster Groves.