Ratchford wins title with second chance
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Ritchey, Denis finish as district runners-up
By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
For Marley Ratchford, reaching the District 6 Class 2A girls singles tennis championship match last fall, and losing there, was a valuable learning experience.
"I worked very hard this past offseason, because I knew how that felt last year, and I didn't want to feel that again,'' Ratchford said Wednesday.
All the hard work by Ratchford, a junior this season, paid off. Under sunny skies on the Herb Faris tennis courts at Mansion Park Wednesday, Ratchford prevailed in the District 6 Class 2A singles championship match, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, over Central High School junior Julia Ritchey.
The District 4-6 Class 3A championship match was won by Central Mountain's Addison Lindsey, 6-0, 6-0, over Hollidaysburg standout Crosby Denis.
Both individual singles champions will now advance to the PIAA state competition Nov. 2-3 at the Hershey Racquet Club.
The District 6 Class 2A final was a hard-fought, back-and-forth and hotly-contested titanic struggle. The second-seeded Ratchford won the first set, but lost the second when the top-seeded Ritchey scored the last four points of the match. Ratchford then captured the third and deciding set, 7-5, by winning the last four points -- including the final two points to break out of a 5-5 tie.
Ratchford had lost to Ritchey in a regular-season match last week but showed great fortitude in coming back to win Wednesday's district championship match despite playing with a sore back.
"I had lost to her before, so I definitely knew that I was going to have to play my best overall match in order to beat her today,'' Ratchford said. "My serving was definitely a challenge today, but serving isn't everything.
"I knew that I had to stay focused on my returns. She's a very hard hitter, and I knew that I would have to be on with my footwork today, and I would have to anticipate well where the ball was hit.''
Central Cambria coach Kim Cavalier saluted Ratchford's diligence, perseverance and work ethic.
"Marley was coming off a loss to Julia last week, and they both played a great match today,'' Cavalier said. "I'm so proud of Marley. She has worked so hard putting in the time on and off the court.
"I'm so proud of the way that she fought through the match today. Her back issue caused her to struggle with her serves, but she's an incredible player and a very smart player who made smart shots today. She showed perseverance and dedication, and dug down deep to win.''
Ritchey also played very well and deserved a better fate.
"Those two play tough matches every time,'' Central coach Shawn Coppersmith said of Ratchford and Ritchey. "Julia just beat her last week at our place, and Julia always gives 100 percent and leaves everything out there. It's tough to lose one like that.''
Ritchey was visibly emotional in the aftermath but gave plenty of credit to Ratchford.
"We both fought hard today and we both gave it our all. I have a lot of respect for her,'' said Ritchey, who will join forces with Central teammate Brooklyn Coppersmith in the District 6 Class 2A doubles championship match next Wednesday at Mansion Park.
The District 6 Class 3A championship match pitted two outstanding freshmen, top seed Lindsey of Central Mountain and second seed Denis of Hollidaysburg, against one another.
Lindsey -- whose older brother, David, is a three-time District 6 Class 3A boys singles champion for Central Mountain and Penn State University commit -- controlled the district championship match from start to finish Wednesday.
"I was able to play quality tennis today,'' Addison Lindsey said. "I've known (Denis) for a long time, and we played against each other when we were younger. She played a great match. It was an enjoyable time today.''
Central Mountain coach Tom Zettle said that Addison Lindsey is passionate about the sport of tennis and has received plenty of good instruction from her father, David.
"She lives, breathes and eats tennis,'' Zettle said. "I would love nothing more than to take credit for what she does, but her father David has done all the great instruction with her.''
Denis also has two outstanding tennis parents in her father, Brian, who is the Hollidaysburg coach, and her mother, Amanda, who is the daughter of the late Altoona High School tennis coach Herb Faris.
Crosby has plenty of irons in the athletic fire. According to her father, Crosby's best sport is golf. Along with competing in the District 6 Class 3A golf championships today in Windber, Crosby will also join forces with Hollidaysburg teammate Megan Ferris in next Wednesday's District 6 Class 3A doubles tennis championship match at Mansion Park.
"The Lindsey girl is on a different level in tennis, but I'm awfully proud of Crosby,'' Brian Denis said. "I tell her that she is the best girls tennis player in our area, and one of the best golfers. Crosby has shown great time management skills in participating in both varsity tennis and golf, while maintaining a very high grade-point average in the classroom.
"Congratulations to Addison,'' Brian Denis said. "She is an elite tennis player who will be playing with a Division I Power 5 conference tennis program in a few years.''
The sky also appears to be the limit for Crosby Denis in both tennis and golf.
"I'm really glad that I made it to the singles finals,'' Crosby said. "It was a really fun experience. Addison is a really great player, one of the best in the state.''
District 4-6 Class 3A final: Lindsey, Central Mountain, def. Denis, 6-0, 6-0.
District 6 Class 2A final: Ratchford, Central Cambria, def. Ritchey, Central, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.