California Tennis Classic set for return

Temperatures in the greater Fresno area this weekend are expected to be in the high 90s with no air-quality issues, welcome news to California Tennis Classic co-director Jonathan Slater.

Especially after the Buchanan High School coach had to cancel last year’s 100-plus-team girls tournament – one of the largest in the nation – because of the heat and poor air caused partly by wildfires.

“Last year was hard. It was the first time we’ve ever had to cancel it outright,” Slater said. “But we’re looking forward to dealing with the normal heat and a tournament that will run more smoothly than the last couple have.”

The tournament returns Friday and Saturday with 98 teams from around the state (51 from the Central Section) at 23 sites around Fresno and Madera counties. They will compete for seven division titles.

Clovis West is the only Central Section team in Division I, which will be headlined by Saratoga and Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills. Reigning Division I section champion Buchanan will be among the favorites in D-II, which also features Clovis North and Bakersfield Christian.

Play begins at 8:30 a.m. Friday, with the D-I final at 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Buchanan. The other finals will start at 1 p.m. at sites to be determined.

Rare opportunity – Four reigning Bee All-Stars are among the 26 area boys soccer players selected to play in a friendly against the U.S. National U16 team.

The game is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at UC Davis.

Clovis High’s Hugo Mendoza and Rubehn Martinez, Central’s Javier Berber and Kerman’s Manuel Lopez headline the group.

Also on the local team are McLane’s Andres Nunes; Clovis North’s Wayne Rutledge and Hayden Sanders; Clovis’ Ian Cardozo, Tyler Hensel, Braedon Rouff, Evan Ghimenti, Jeff Battaion, Connor Graham, Alex Martinez and Roberto Cervantes; Buchanan’s Blake Crossland, Austin Roberts, Johnny Bronze and Remi Blanchette; Bullard’s Dan Cossette; Central’s Mike Arrington and Jimmy Lorrenti; Washington’s Genaro Hernandez; Clovis East’s Eric Canela; Clovis West’s Eli Rio Frio; and Selma’s Erik Rubio.

All of the competitors come from the Clovis Crossfire club program teams of players born in 1999 and 2000.

“This is bigger than winning a state tournament,” said Danny Amparano, the coach at Clovis High and director of the Crossfire boys teams. “This is something where they will get identified at the U.S. national level. College coaches will be there. It’s just something special for them. It’s a résumé builder.”

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 3:41 PM with the headline "California Tennis Classic set for return."