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Show Craig Griffin shrugs off pressure in pivotal Miner tennis match by Dave Adler On the shoulders of Craig Griffin rested the Park City High School tennis team's match against Mt. Vemon and its unblemished record. With the two teams tied at 2-2, the senior's tennis game had suddenly become the team's linch pin. But Griffith thrived under the pressure. He coolly weathered the pressure of three consecutive tie breakers to down his stubborn Mt. Vemon opponent, Mike Lambson, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 to give the Miners a 3-2 victory last Thursday at the Park Meadows Racquet Club. Later that afternoon, the Miners defeated Dugway 4-1 to hike their season record to 4-0. Craig is to be commended for not giving up," said coach Bob Burns. "His was the pivotal match." Griffin, playing in the number two singles spot in the absence of defending state champion Greg King, who was forced out of the lineup with a back injury, saw his nerves and skills put to a severe test in the two-hour marathon match. Griffin was down triple match point in the second set, but came back not only to win that set but the third as well. "I can't say enough about his performance," said Bums. "He was determined to win and he played very well." Griffin's 1 1 th hour heroics against Mt. Vernon overshadowed the impressive performance of freshman Fred Birch, who only last week ascended to the team's number one singles position after ousting defending defend-ing state champion, Chris Elkins, in a challenge match. Birch disposed of his opponent, Jerry Bums, 6-0, 6-0. "Fred and Chris really go after each other on the court," said Bums. "On Friday they'll play again for that number one singles spot." Park City's Bart Davis defeated Mt. Vernon's Marty Lambson in the number three singles spot, 6-2, 6-2. While the Miners fared well in the singles competition, they found the going tough in the doubles action. The number one doubles team of James Clahane and Eric Fritz bowed to the Mt. Vemon duo of Sean Morrow and Tom Fits, 6-7, 4-6. And the second doubles team of Chris Carlson and Joe Whitesides fell to Tim Fackrell and Steve Morley, 5-7, 2-6. "Mt. Vemon played their best players in doubles rather than singles," explained Bums. The Miners had an easier time against Dugway. Fred Birch handily defeated Robert Argyle, 6-1, 6-0 for his second win of the day, and number two singles player, Chris Elkins quickly subdued Shawn Carney, 6-1, 6-0. The Miners' lone defeat was suffered by Bart Davis in the third singles slot, at the hands of Jimmy Deal, 6-7, 4-6. But the number one doubles team of Mike Birch and Max Soderstrom exacted a measure of revenge with a 6-0, 6-3 whipping of Keith Warren and Darin Buys. And the second doubles team of Eric Fritz and Ron Matthews downed Tony Moe and Gus Magann, 6-2, 6-1. The Miners travel to Salt LakeCity this afternoon to meet Rowland Hall. |