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Sunday, April 20, 2003

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The late William L. Colbert, an African-American who developed into one of the district's top players despite being barred from many of the public and private courts, was inducted into the United States Tennis Association's Allegheny Mountain District Hall of Fame at its awards banquet at the Fox Chapel Racquet Club.

Colbert, a spokesman and advocate for youth tennis, died a year ago.

Other award winners were Beaver High School's Riley Baker as coach of the year, and men's and women's adults in age-group singles: Ron Mercer (open), Chris Murphy (over 35), Gary Schwartz (over 45), Chuck Taylor (over 50), Mike Quinn (over 55), Len Fechter (over 60), Doug Kerin (over 65), Jack Dorsey (over 70), Jill Williams (open), Carolyn Kupperman (over 45) and Gloria Kerin (over 55).

Citiparks clinics

Citiparks, under new director Aldene LaCaria who replaced Jim Rudolph, will sponsor a number of programs this summer at the Schenley Oval courts. The teaching pros will be LaCaria and her staff, Doug Brooks, Ted Bowman, Molly and Kate Lebow, David Bender and Mason Cowie.

For more information on tournaments and clinics, call 412-244-4188.

Every Monday through October from 6:30 to 8 p.m., there will be lessons for adult beginners (18 and up). It costs $7 per person for city residents and $9 for non-residents.

Every Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. for intermediate adults, $7 and $9.

Every Thursday, 7-9 p.m., advanced players at the 3.5 level and up, $10 and $12.

Every Saturday, 10-11 a.m., "Munchkins" from 5-7 years-old, $5. Rackets provided. From 10-11:30 a.m., beginnings up to 18, $6 and $8. From 10-11:30 a.m., beginner adults, $7-$9.

Weekly summer camps for kids 5-18, starting June 16 from 8:45 a.m. to noon.

*There's still time to join the USA Tennis Leagues for all levels that are forming now to start competition in June at sites all over the city.

Campus courts

Duquesne, led by junior Micael Lopez-Acevedo, was third for the school's highest finish in the Atlantic 10 Conference men's tournament at the Oxford Athletic Club in Monroeville.

Fifth-seeded Duquesne defeated No. 4 St. Joseph's, 4-1, in the first round, then lost to No. 1 Richmond, 4-1, and defeated No. 3 Xavier, 4-2.

St. Bonaventure was the champion.

Lopez-Acevedo, a native of Puerto Rico and a transfer from Bowling Green University, was 3-0 in No. 2 singles and 2-0 in No. 2 doubles with Devon Peightal of Erie Cathedral Prep. Posting 2-1 records in singles were Seth Fogelman, Russell Moseley and Rob Ojeda.

Duquesne was 10-9 in matches during the regular season.

Grove City (12-2, 4-0) and Washington and Jefferson (7-1, 3-0) are heading for a showdown Tuesday that will determine the men's champion of the regular season in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. W&J, led by freshman Ali Nemazee's 7-0 record at No. 6 singles, has won six matches in a row.

Grove City, which had its11-match winning streak ended by a 7-2 loss to Walsh this week, has won 11 consecutive PAC championships under Joe Walters. He has a 248-97 record in 30 seasons as the head coach. Grove City's top players are freshman Matthew Chung, who is 21-0 at No. 5 singles and No. 2 doubles, and Phil Springirth, who is 23-1 at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles.

The PAC championships will be at Pennbriar Club in Erie, Friday and Saturday.

The PAC player of the week is Waynesburg sophomore Mark Gates of Brownsville High School.

Marshall, led by the No. 21-ranked doubles team in Division I of Jessica Johnson (Sewickley) and Alice Sukner (Allderdice), is 7-0 in the Mid-American Conference and looking to make a return trip to the NCAA tournament. In a non-conference match this week, Marshall (14-7) defeated West Virginia, 7-0, for its sixth consecutive victory.

Marshall's coaches are John Mercer (Mt. Lebanon) and his wife, Laurie.

What's happening

Three-time champion Val Wilder and last year's runner-up John Chatlak (Monessen and Wheeling, W.Va.) already are in the field for the National Men's 40 Indoor Championship at the Oxford Athletic Club in Monroeville, May 16-21. Dollar Bank and Oxford Athletic Club will sponsor the event for the ninth consecutive year.

The Paul G. Sullivan clay-court championships at Frick Park in Regent Square is scheduled for July 12-20 at the resurfaced courts that are expected to be ready. Entry fees are $5 for singles and $6 per doubles team.